'Glass ?>U 505 

Book: IT? 5 

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I 




FR ONTISFIE CE 




HISTORY 

- ■ • , . .. -v . v 

' ' ; ! - %p. . ■'■ v .' ' -U^^T" 



OF THE 

HEATHEN MYTHOLOGY; 

OR, 

TifE FABLES OF THE ANCIENTS 

ELUCIDATED FROM 

J^fetortcal Eecora^ 

An important Key to the Classics, 

To which is added, 

AN ENQUIRY INTO THE RELIGION OF THE FIRST 
INHABITANTS OF GREAT BRITAIN. 

And a particular Account of 

THE ANCIENT DRUIDS. 

Transited from the French of M. UABBE BE TRESS AN; 

By H. NORTH. 

SECOND EDITION, 

EMBELLISHED WITH SEVENTY -FIVE ENGRAVINGS. 



LONDON 



PRINTED FOR B. CROSBY AND CO. STATIONERS COURT, 
PATERNOSTER ROW. 

1806. . 



1 



G 



TO THE 

RIGHT HONOURABLE LADY 
BARBARA PLEYDELL BOUVERIE, 



Madam, 

I venture with the greater 
confidence to dedicate this work to your 
Ladyfhip, as it is in fome degree your own; 
and fhould it meet with any fuccefs, it is to 
you I (hall think my felf indebted for it. 

I forefee that, unaffuming as you are, you 
will difclaim all title to this eulogium ; you 
difplay only the fprightlinefs and graces fo 
natural to your age ; you feern wholly occu- 
pied by your amufements, and it is to a faith- 
ful memory, that you attribute the fatisfac- 
tion afforded by your anfwers. You will fay 
then, you will even believe, that you owe all 

a % to 



IV DEDICATION. " 

to the care of your mafters. I certainly (hall 
not combat this modefty, which gives luftre 
to every quality % but though the trufh may 
coft you fome embarraffment, I mufl: tell it 
all. You will recoiled:, Madam, that when 
we began by reading together Le Dictionaire 
de la Fable, I caufed, as it were, all Olym- 
pus to pafs in review before you. The long 
lift of personages wearied, without intereft- 
log you, yet fome names ftruck your atten- 
tion forcibly, by their refemblance to thofe 
w 7 ith which your progrefs in antient hiftory 
had made you acquainted ; from that time I 
found in your own talents the means of en- 
gaging you in the, ftudy of Mythology, by 
explaining to you its relation to hiftory. 

Being • prefent at your lelfons, I have fre- 
quently feen you employ the pencil, in cor- 
rectly imitating toe drawings given you to 
copy; this gave me an opportunity of men- 
tioning the works of Xeuxis, Phidias, Apelles, 
arid other celebrated A rtifts , which formed the 

greateft 



DEDICATION. V 

greateft ornaments of the temples of antiquity* 
On hearing you awake the tones of the Piano 
Forte, I fpoke to you of the power of mufic; 
I mentioned to you Orpheus, the fon of 
Apollo and Calliope; I defcribed to you the 
temple of the Mufes, and you learnt with 
pleafure that Terpfichore pre fid ed over thofe 
lively, airy dances, which ferve at once to 
amufe and ftrengthen you, and to give free- 
dom and grace to all your motions. 

It was thus, by feeing the fuccefs with 
which you, rewarded the pains beftowed on 
your education, that I felt the greateft defire 
to contribute to your improvement; and it 
was for that purpofe, that I endeavoured to 
find a method of giving you at the fame time 
a fufficient knowledge of Mythology, and of 
proving to you, that it almoft always has its 
origin in ancient hiftory and tradition. This 
work prefented many difficulties, but you in- 
fpired emulation, and your appofite queftions 
repeatedly fuggefted to me what I fought. 

Accept 



v ; l BEDICATIONe 

Accept then the homage of a tafk, whkli 
owes its exiftence to you. Were the public 
to fee, and hear you, the Author would be 
overlooked, you would be the only object of 
admiration, and the wifti of every parent 
would be, that their children might equal 
you. 

I am, Madam, 
With the greateft refpeci, 
Your Ladyship's 
Very humble fervant, 
M. TRESSA.W 



ADDRESS 



THE T R A N S L A T O R. 



I"Javin t g long been engaged in the mftruclion o£ 
youth, particularly of the female fex, it was with 
peculiar fatisfaQion I undertook the translation of a 
work which feemed tq me fo eminently qualified to 
convey to them a fpecies of knowledge, which the 
general plan of their education in fome meafure excludes 
them from the pofhbility of acquiring. The compre- 
henfive manner in which the fubjecl is viewed, the order 
and connexion obferved in the arrangements ; but above 
all, that lingular delicacy which pervades every part of 
it, gives the treatife of Mr. l'Abbe de Trefian, in my 
opinion, a decided fuperiority over any publication of 
the kind exiting in £he Englifh language. 

With 



HI ADDRESS FROM THE TRANSLATOR. 

With refpecl to my own performance, I have endea* 
soured faithfully to render the fenfe of my author, and as 
far as poffible to obferve eafe and freedom in my flyle ; 
Ihould I have fucceeded, I have attained the fummifc of 
my wimes ; fhould I have failed, I deprecate fevere een- 
fure by an apology which is ever favourably received by 
a liberal and indulgent public : it is a firll attempt, 

N°. i6 3 Rupert-Street, H. NORTH, 

Leicester-Square. 



PREFACE 



The French edition of Mythology com* 
pared with Hiftory being completely exhaufted ; 
the author, encouraged by the flattering reception 
which that work experienced from an indulgent 
public, has thought it his duty to yield to the nu- 
merous felicitations of his friends, by giving a 
tran nation of it in the Englifti language. 

He has carefully made fuch corrections as ap~ 
peared to him necefTary, and has annexed fome ad- 
ditional articles which are indifpenfable for thofe 
who wifh to have a general knowledge of Mytho- 
logy, and the /progrefs of Paganifm. It is for the 
public alone to determine, how far this perform- 
ance is worthy of being dedicated to the inftruction 
-of youth. 

Les talents, le zele et les foins du traducleur 
viennent de donner un merite reel a cet ouvrage ; 
1'auteur faifit avec emprelTement 1'occafion d'en 
temoigner fa reconnouTance*. 

It is univerfally acknowledged, that to travel 
with advantage, to eftimate the capital productions 
of the arts, to read poets and ancient authors, it is 

* Here modefty compels my pen to make a paufe. A com- 
pliment fo highly gratifying I dare not appropriate to myfelf till 
authorifed by the fanclion of the public, 

b requi- 



X 



PREFACE, 



requifite to have a competent knowledge of My- 
thology confequently we fhall not dwell upon 
the neceffity of cultivating that fpecies of ftudy ; 
but that it might equally fuit every age, it was ne- 
ceflary to obferve the moft fcrupulous attention to 
the method of conveying inftruction of this kind. 
The author is happy and proud to repeat it, that 
every parent who has done him the honour of fub- 
fcribing to his work, has condefcended to give him 
the flattering afturance, that, after having atten- 
tively examined it, they have found that they might 
with the greateft fafety abandon it to the ufe of 
their children. We wilh our readers to obferve, 
that our object being to give a complete idea of 
Mythology and the origin of idolatry, it has been 
unavoidably neceflary to take a general view, and 
return to the firft ages of the world. 

It is not an abridgment by way of queftion and 
anfwer we have wilhed to prefent, it is not limply 
a knowledge of the heathen divinities we have 
intended to give; encouraged by the genius of a 
great nation, fond of reflection and profound ftudy, 
which knows how to avail itfelf of the happy dif- 
pofitions of youth, to aecuftom it to the nobleft 
and mod arduous purfuits, we have thought it our 
duty to foar above the common track, and have 
endeavoured by every method to point out the true 
fources to which it is neceflary to recur for real in- 
formation. If fome think we are liable to cenfure 
2 for 



PREFACE. XI 

for not having the entered more fully into many 
©f the fubjects, and for having omitted feverai 
names in the lift of thofe called Divinities of a 
particular fpecies, our reply is, that this lift alone 
would require volumes, and anfwer no other pur- 
pofe than fatiguing the memory, without giving 
any eflential inftruction ; it is by reading the prin- 
cipal productions of great mafters that we acquire 
a knowledge of thefe names, and then the trouble 
of retaining them will be repaid by the charms we 
lhall find diffufed through their works. 

Our principal object has always been to take a 
general view of Mythology, to trace it from its 
origin, to follow it through its wanderings, and mark 
its every ftep it is the more effectually to accom- 
plilh this end that we have added an account of 
the religion of the flrft inhabitants of Great Britain, 
and the hiftory of the Druids : the names of thefe 
priefts are fo celebrated, and we ftill fo frequently 
meet with veftiges of their religious ceremonies, 
that it would in a manner be unpardonable to be 
totally ignorant of what concerns them. 

If the former part of this work is thought to 
exceed the capacity of youth in general, parents or 
preceptors may themfelves, by the progrefs of 
their pupils, judge the period when it will be of 
utility to bring them back to it, and at firft it will 
be fufficient to teach them the divifion of the pagan 
deities, and the particular hiftories of the gods. 

We 



XII 



PREFACE,. 



We have, as frequently as poffible, compared, 
fiction with hiftory, and given explanations of the 
fables, in order, as much as lay in our power, to 
add to the numerous objects of inftruftion pre- 
sented to youth in England : this , method we 
have carefully followed, having obferved that all 
tutors make a point of impreffing upon the me- 
mory of their fcholars, the chronology of empires, 
and their moil remarkable events. By the method 
which we have obferved, Mythology will in fome 
degree be only a continuation of the itudy of hiilory. 

The work of the learned Abbe Banier is only 
proper for thofe perfons who are accufcomed to 
refearches into antiquity: but we take this oppor- 
tunity of declaring, that, notwithstanding our care 
In confulting the molt eileemed authors, it is prin- 
cipally this able mailer who has been our guide. 

The Bifiionaire dela Fable, by Chornpre, has great 
merit, and is even neceflary in aiiiiling the me- 
mory, but being arranged in alphabetical order, 
and containing no hiftorical elucidation^ it muil be 
judged mmfficient. 

The Metamorphofes of Ovid, as well as the works 
of other poets, can by no means be ftiled a com- 
plete fyftem of mythology \ and befides are not 
adapted to the capacity of every defcription of 
readers: thefe are the rcafons which led us to 
undertake this work, which we hope will be found 
worthy of the public approbation. 

9 MYTHOLOGY 



C * 3 
MYTHOLOGY 

COMPARE© WITH 

HISTORY. 



.Preliminary Reflexions upon the Origin of Idolatry, 

If we wifii to trace the origin of idolatry, 
we muft afcend to the origin of the pafiions. 

Sacred Writ alone can teach us the true caufe 
of the miferies, and diforders of the human race. 
That celeilial light has alone the power of difli- 
pating the gloom : and it is by taking this for his 
guide, that man, perceiving at once his weaknefs 
and his pride, ceafes at laft to be the fport of his 
doubts. We mail not repeat the inftruclions 
dictated by the Almighty himfelf : they are known 
to all our readers. It is from this pure and facred 
fource, that the eloquent BoiTwet drew the firft 
principles, and elements, of his immortal difcourfe 
on Univerfal Hiftory. 

Let us content ourfelves with following him, 
when, fupported by holy fcripture, he gralps the 
whole extent of hiftory, and traces, with a maf- 

B terly 



2 PRELIMINARY REFLECTIONS. 

terly hand, the rapid, but fublime picture, of the 
infancy of the world. 

cc Every thing has a beginning, and there is no 
hiflory, however ancient, in which we cannot 
difcover evident marks of the recent creation of 
the world. 

€C We fee laws eftabiifhed, manners polifhed, 
empires formed, and the human race inftructed 
by experience, gradually emerge from a ftate of 
ignorance. Arts are invented, mankind increafe, 
the earth is peopled : precipices, mountains, feas, 
rivers, are no longer obftacles — all are furmounted. 
Levelled woods give place to fields, to paflures, 
villages, towns, and cities ; man bends even 
metals to his ufe, and by degrees makes all 
nature flibfervient to it. 

c c But as the diftance from the originals increafed, 
men confounded the ideas they had received from 
their anceftors ; the human mind debafed could no 
longer elevate itfelf, and men becoming unwilling to 
adore what they did not fee, idolatry fpread itfelf 
over the whole univerfe. Yet an obfeure idea of 
the Divine Power maintained itfelf by its own 
force; but, confounded with the images intro- 
duced by the fenfes, they adored whatever ap- 
peared to have any motion or power: thus the 
fun, the "planets, whofe influence was felt from fo 
great a diftance ; fire, the elements fo univerfai 
in their effects, became the firft objects of public 

adoration. 



PRELIMINARY REFLECTIONS. 3 

adoration. Men bore the penalty of fubmitting 
themfelves to their fenfes all was determined by 
rhem, and, in fpite of reafon, they created all the 
gods that were adored upon earth. 

(f In the time of Abraham, and a little while 
after, the knowledge of the true God appeared 
ftill to fubfift in Paleftine, and in Egypt. 

" Melchifedeck king of Salem, v/as the prieft 
of the moil High God, who made heaven and 
earth. 

cc Abimelech king of Gerar, and his fucceflbr 
who bore the fame name, feared God, fwore by 
his name, and admired his power. The threats 
of this mighty God were dreaded by Pharaoh 
king of Egypt ; but, in the time of Moles, the 
nations were fallen into idolatry, the true God 
was no longer known in Egypt as the God of the 
univerfe, but only as the God of the Hebrews ; 
they adored even animals and reptiles : every 
thing was God, except God himfelf." 

In this picture, traced by the hand of genius, 
we fee prophane hiftory, always doubtful, when 
it withes to penetrate the obfcurity of diftant 
ages, fubmit its narrations to the authority of 
fcripture, and draw them from that infallible 
fource, which alone can enlighten us upon the 
formation of the univerfe. We fee the caufe of 
the firrl errors and diforders, and ceafe to be 
aftonifhed Cf at feeing the human mind, hurried on 

b 2 by 



4 PRELIMINARY REFLECTIONS, 

by a blind impreffion, fink into idolatry without 
the poflibility of preventing it. Man regarding 
as divine whatever was powerful, and feeling 
himfelf drawn with irrefiftible force towards vice, 
thought that this force was fomething different 
from himfelf, and formed it into a god : thence it 
was, that altars were raifed to impiety, and that 
man tormented by remorfe, regarded the Divinity 
as an enemy, who was not to be appeafed by 
common victims : impelled by terror, parents 
facrificed even their children, and burnt them for 
incenfe to their gods." 

After having feen thefe firft caufes, let us 
confider how man could fall into a ftate of 
degeneracy, which continually increafed as he 
advanced in life. 

The firft families multiplied. The earth no 
longer fmiled upon man, it no longer yielded 
fpontancoufly. The necefiity of finding fubfift- 
ence conftrained them firft to emigrate. 

New fruits, new fields, were to be fought; 
and thefe families, at their departure, carried 
with them imprefiions which nothing could efface. 

They had not feen that delightful garden — the 
abode of innocence — where the firft man had 
been placed during the former part of his life, 
but the defcription of it had been tranfmitted 
from age to age, and the defire of happinefs, that 
moft conftant and irrefiftible of all defires, per- 
petuated 



PRELIMINARY REFLECTIONS. £ 

pctuated the remembrance of it - } perhaps even a 
vague hope of again finding it determined thefe 
wandering families to direct their fteps towards 
unknown regions. But thefe pleafing illufions of 
hope, foon gave place to the moft melancholy 
reality. 

As they advanced, they found nothing but the 
wrecks of the globe, as it were, which the 
univerfal deluge had overthrown from its foun- 
dation and the dangers which threatened them at 
every Hep, imprinted the remembrance of it in 
indelible characters. After fruitlefs and painful 
refearches, the necefiity of fubfifting compelled 
thern to flop, and apply themfelves to labour. 
But what obftacles had they to furmount ? Im- 
menfe forefts impenetrable to the rays of the fun, 
infefted with venemous reptiles, and wild beafts ; 
marfhes, which art had not yet taught how to 
drain ; barren plains, or which produced nothing 
but brambles : thefe were the new domains 
referved for man. All nature feemed in arms 
againft him, which ever way he turned. Inftead 
of fafety and repofe, he found fatigue and death, 
and, to complete his mifery, he ftill preferved 
the remembrance of his primitive happinefs. 
Yet he mud either work or perifh. Some portions 
of ground were cultivated, but he, who by the 
fweat of his brow could fcarce procure food for 
himfelf and family, had no thought of being 
b 3 geaerous ; 



6 



PRELIMINARY REFLECTIONS. 



generous : he inclofed his fields^ he defended his 
harvefts ; and, as their prefervation alone could 
infure his own exiftence, he threatened with 
death whoever fhould attempt to deprive him of 
them. 

It was thus that a right to property was firft 
eftabiifhed among men, whom the fear of perifh- 
ing with mifery, and hunger, foon armed againft 
each other. 

A father of a family, furrounded by his chil- 
dren, it may eafily be conceived, would have long 
remained in peace; but prefTed by other men, 
purfued by the fame neceflities, whofe induftry or 
labours were not equal to his own, he was foon 
obliged to make ufe of force to repel their depre- 
dations. The inflruments which ferved to fruc- 
tify the earth, became the inflruments of death ; 
War arofe, and when this terrible fcourge had 
let loofe its rage, cruelty and vengeance, felfifh- 
nefs and injuftice over-ran the whole earth. 

Man then entirely occupied by his neceffities 
and pafiions, thought the lefs of preferring the 
precepts and worfhip of the true God, as he had 
already loft the knowledge of him when he left 
his native land. Each fucceeding generation 
wandered ftill farther into the mazes of error; 
wickednefs eftabiifhed her empire; fhe alone 
gave laws, or rather plunged men into the moft 
horrible ftate of depravity, leaving them no 

other 



PRELIMINARY REFLECTIONS. 7 

other guide than their defires, and inordinate 
pafilons. 

Let us leave thefe hordes of favages, their hiftory 
can only infpire us with horror ; we fhall refume 
it hereafter, at the period when civilized colonies, 
conducted by experienced and courageous chiefs, 
came to refcue them from this deplorable condi- 
tion, by introducing among them more falutary 
laws and more gentle manners. 

The compendious hiftorical account of M. de 
BorTuet, is fufficient to inform us of the original 
eftablifhments of mankind, and in what manner 
they forgot the precepts received immediately 
from God : it likewife proves, that the remem- 
brance of great events could never have been 
loft, and that as foon as corruption had led men 
to imagine Gods, hiftorical truths and the fabu- 
lous hiftory of divinities mull have been con- 
founded together. 

Obfervation likewife mows us, that the inha- 
bitants of the eaft muft have efcaped that igno- 
rance and barbarity which difgraced thofe people 
who had penetrated into remote regions. 

The patriarchs had tranfmitted to the former 
a knowledge of their arts, and more noble ideas, 
and to this day, notwithftanding the ravages of 
ages, their works are the admiration of the whole 
world. 

B 4 To 



$ CHALDEAN TRADITIONS. 

To prcferve fome order in thefe dark periods, 
and to explain the difference between ' the gods 
of the eaft, and thofe of the weft, we fhall give 
fome of the opinions which are entertained con- 
cerning the traditions of the Chaldeans and 
Egyptians. 

We mall fee, that it was among thefe people that 
idolatry firft had its rife, and it will appear in 
the courfe of this work, that it was colonies of thefe 
fame people, who introduced among the Greeks, 
and the inhabitants of the weft, laws, cuftoms, 
more civilized manners, and the greater part of 
their arts. 

In procefs of time, the Greeks tranfmitted them to 
the Romans, and it is to avoid confounding epochs, 
that we have divided the Pagan deities into two 
claries, the Gods of the eaft, and the Gods of the weft. 



TRADITION or the CHALDEANS. 

, It is among the people of Afia, that we 
muft feek for the origin of idolatry. The Chal- 
deans were undoubtedly one of the moft ancient 
people of the earth. v 

Their firft king was Nimrod; he is fuppofed 
to be the author of the mad attempt of the tower 
of Babel, and lived in the time of the Phaleg, 

Notwith- 



CHALDEAN TRADITIONS. 9 

Notwithstanding the difficulty of afcending to 
fo diftant a period, there are always to be found 
fome traces by which truth may be difcovered. 
Hiftorians, fucceeding each other from age to 
age, have flood in need of authorities to fupport 
their writings; they have had recourfe to the 
fragments of preceding hiftorians, and it is by 
carefully collecting thefe, that an attentive ob- 
ferver founds his remarks upon folid bafes, and 
avoids error, though the original writings of men 
be loft. The hiftorian Jofephus relates, that the 
Chaldeans, from the earliefb times, carefully pre^- 
ferved the remembrance of paft events, by public 
infcriptions and other monuments. He fays, they 
caufed their annals to be written by the wifeft 
men of their nation. To this, we may add, that 
there cannot be a greater proof of their antiquity 
than the refemblance between their defcription 
of the origin of the world, and that conveyed to 
us through the writings of Mofes. 

Four ancient authors* had written the hiftory 
of the Chaldeans; their works are loft, but fpme 
fragments of them are ftill to be met with in 
Eufebius, Jofephus, and Syncellus; it is to the 
latter we are indebted for the following extract 
from Berofus. 

* Abydenus, Apollodorus, Eerofus, and Alexander Poly- 
kiftor. 

" A man, 



to 



CHALDEAN TRADITIONS, 



" A man, or rather a monfter, half man and half 
fTfh, coming from the red fea, appeared near 
Babylon; he had two heads; one, which was the 
higher!, refembled that of a man, the other that 
of a Mi. 

<f He had the feet of a man, and the tail of a 
fifh ; and his fpeech and voice refembled that of 
a man : a reprefentation of him is ftill preferred. 
This monfter, according to the Chaldean author, 
dwelt by day with men, but took no food; he 
gave them the knowledge of letters, arts, and 
fciences; he taught them to build towers and 
temples ; and to eftablifh laws ; he inftructed 
them in the principles of geometry ; taught them 
to fow, and to gather the fruits of the earth ; in 
fhort, whatever could contribute to polifh and 
civilize their manners. At fun fet he retired to 
the fea, in which he parled the night. 

cc There appeared likewife others of the fame 
Jpecies, and Berofus had promifed to explain 
thefe myfteries, in his hiftory of kings, but of that 
there are now no remains. This fifh was called 
Cannes. 

cc He left fome writings upon the origin of the | 
world, in which he fays, that there was a time, 
in which ail was darknefs, and water, and that 
this darknefs, and water, contained monftrous 
animals." 

However fingular this ftory may be, it appears 

to 



■5 



CHALDEAN TRADITIONS. 



1 I 



to be only a diftorted tradition of the creation of 
the world, taken from the writings of Mofes i we 
ought particularly to remark that part, where he 
fays, that darknefs and water once covered the 
face of the earth. 

In vain does the human mind endeavour to 
corrupt truth, it always leaves fome enlightening 
veftige by which it may be known. We may 
perceive that the Chaldean author at once ap- 
proaches too near the origin of the world, not 
to be convinced of its recent creation, and is too 
far from the facred fource, where he might have 
informed himfelf, to have any knowledge of that. 
We find him furrounded with nothing but dis- 
figured and confufed traditions - 3 yet the order, 
vifible in the univerfe, made fuch an imprefiion 
on his imagination, that it was eafier for him to 
believe thefe perverted traditions which fpeak 
of an all-powerful God, Creator of all things, than 
that whatever furrounded him was eternal, or 
felf created. Let us farther obferve, that if we 
trace the etymology of the word Oannes, it appears 
to be derived from the Syrian word Onedo, 
which fignifies traveller. This mows then, that 
at a period, which cannot be determined, a man 
arrived by fea, from whom the Chaldeans received 
fome principles of philofophy, and a knowledge of 
ancient traditions; and that he left them written 
information on thefe fubje&s. He is repre-. 

6 fented 



12 CHALDEAN TRADITIONS. 

fented as half man, and half fifh, becaufe he came 
from the fea, and was cloathed with the fkins of 
fifh. 

As he retired every evening to his vefTel, and 
took his repairs on board of it, they feigned that 
he took no food, and palled the night in the fea. 
A fragment of Heladius, (till extant, relates the 
hiftory of Cannes, and gives this explanation of 
his pretended form of a fifh. Such was the tra- 
dition of the Chaldeans, concerning the origin of 
the world. 

The ancient agronomical obfervations of the 
Chaldeans, and the antiquity which they attribute 
to their nation, are fo frequently fpoken of with 
aftonifhment, that to elucidate this hiftorical my- 
ftery, we think it necefiary to relate the manner 
in which they reckoned their time, and reigns. 

The Chaldeans counted their generations and 
reigns by fares: they likewife divided time into 
neres> and jojes. 

The fare, confided of three thoufand, fix hun- 
dred years : the nere> of fix hundred, and the Jofe, 
of iixty. 

This method of computing feems to give an 
infinite number of years to the duration of the 
reigns of their fir ft monarchs. 

But the Univerfal Hiftory, ' publifhed by an 
Englifti fociety, Scaliger, and feveral learned ob~ 
fervers, agree in informing us, that the Chaldeans 

gave 



CHALDEAN TRADITIONS. 33 

gave the name of years to their days; To that by 
reducing the calculation of three thoufand fix 
hundred years, which compofed a fare, to three 
thoufand fix hundred days, we fhall find, that the 
number of years, related by thefe ancient authors, 
is almoft exactly the fame as that given by Mofes, 
to the duration of the lives of the ancient patri- 
archs. This comparifon is the more correct, as 
it is found to be perfectly conformable to agro- 
nomical obfervations. 

Mr. Bailli, in his hiftory of Ancient Aftronomy, 
proves the truth of this calculation: he traces 
from eclipfe to eclipfe, and by counting days for 
years, he arrives at thofe mentioned by the 
Chaldeans. 

It is thus that vanity has frequently thrown a 
veil over antiquity each nation wifhing to give 
as late a date as poffible to the epoch of its 
origin. 

The Chaldeans give the hiftory of their ten firft 
kings ; the laft of which was Xixutrus. They 
fay, that it was in his time the deluge happened. 
We fhall give their account of him, to prove its 
correfpondence with facred hiftory. This frag- 
ment will likewife fhow, that the fabulous accounts 
of antiquity are founded upon ancient traditions, 
and are not merely the production of fancy. 

Chronus, or Saturn, having appeared in a dream 

to 



14 CHALDEAN TRADITIONS* 

to Xixutrus, informed him, that on the fifteenth 
day of the month Dcefius the human race would 
be deftroyed by a deluge and ordered him to 
write down the origin, hiftory, and end of all 
things, and to conceal this account under the 
earth, in the city of the fun, called Sippara , after- 
wards to build a veffel, furnifh it with provifions, 
and to enter into it, himfelf, his family, and friends, 
taking likewife with him birds, and four footed 
animals. Xixutrus punctually obeyed thefe orders, 
and built a veffel, two ftadia broad, and five long, 
which he had no fooner entered, than the earth was 
covered with water. 

Sometime afterwards, perceiving that the wa- 
ters were abated, he fent forth fome birds, 
which finding neither food, nor place of reft, 
returned to the vefTel. Some days after, he libe- 
rated others, which returned with mud upon their 
claws \ the third time when difcharged, they 
returned no more, which led him to believe that 
the earth began to be fufficiently dry. 

He then made an opening in the vefTel, and 
feeing it had flopped upon a mountain, he came 
out of it, with his wife, daughter, and the pilot, 
paid his adorations to the earth, raifed an altar, 
fecrificed to the Gods, and afterwards, himfelf, 
with all thofe who had accompanied him, difap- 
peared. Thole that remained in the veffel, finding 

them 



CHALDEAN TRADITIONS. 

them not return, quitted the fame, and fought 
them every where but in vain. 

A voice was heard, informing them, that the 
piety of Xixutrus had merited his tranllation to 
heaven; and that both he, and thofe who accom- 
panied him, were now admitted among the number 
of the gods. The fame voice exhorted them to be 
religious, and having procured the records buried 
at Sippara, to proceed to Babylon. 

The voice having ceafed, they went and built 
the city juft mentioned, with feveral others. 

Such is the celebrated tradition of the Chaldeans, 
where we already find fabulous hiftory intermixed 
with facred. 

It is worthy remark, that Berofus in his Frag* 
ments, makes no mention of the time in which 
Oannes appeared. 

He begins his hiftory with thefe words, " The 
firft year appeared this extraordinary man." 

It is evident, then, that time does not commence 
from Oannes, but only that he firft enlightened 
the Chaldeans, and left them this tradition. 



TRADITION 



tS EGYPTIAN TRADITIONS. 



TRADITION or the EGYPTIANS. 

Some among the Egyptians believed, 
that there exifted a Supreme Intelligence who 
created the world ; and that in man there like wife 
exifted an intelligence fuperior to the body, which 
was the foul. 

: But this greats this fublime idea, was admitted 
and received, only by a few more enlightened 
than the reft; and as the knowledge of fo impor- 
tant a fecret gave them a fuperiority over other 
men, they confidered k of moil: inefiimable value, 
and involved it in impenetrable myfteries. 

None were admitted to the knowledge of thefe 
myfteries, till they had undergone the mofl terri- 
ble probation, which was called their initiation. 

The religion of the people was the grolTeft 
idolatry. Struck with the fight of the fun, and 
the other ftars and planets, they fuppofed that 
thefe luminous bodies were fovereigns of the 
world, and the only gods who governed it. 

They called the fun Ofiris, and the moon Ills. 
Ofiris fignifies full of eyes, very clear fighted. 

Ifis fignifies the ancient, beca'ufe they thought 
the moon to be eternal. 

But they did not ftop here. When once we 
are bewildered in obfeurity, every flep we take 
1 increafes 



EGYPTIAN TRADITIONS- 17 

increafes our perplexity ; the Egyptians acknow- 
ledged eight principal deities, the Sun, Saturn, 
Rhea, Jupiter, Juno, Vulcan, Vefta, and Mer- 
cury or Hermes, 

Chronos, or Saturn, having efpoufed Rhea, 
became the father of Ofiris and Ifis, or according 
to others, of Jupiter and Juno. The latter 
make Jupiter the parent of five other gods j 
Ofiris, Ifis, Typhon, Apollo, and Aphrodite or 
Venus. They add that Ofiris was the fame as 
Bacchus, and Ifis the fame as Ceres. 

We have here mentioned the names of thefe 
deities, becaufe we lhall continually meet with 
them among the gods of the weft, that is of the 
Greeks and Romans, which will prove in the 
mod convincing manner, that the former received 
their religious ceremonies, and divinities, from 
Egyptian, and Phoenician colonies, which fettled 
amongft them and civilized them. 

The Egyptian mythology, fays Plutarch, is of 
two defcriptions, one facred and fublime, the 
other fenfible and palpable. It is on that 
account they place Sphynxes at the doors of 
their temples: they wifti us by that to underftand, 
that their theology contains the fecrets of wifdom, 
couched in enigmatical expreflions. 

To the fame caufe we may attribute the fol- 
lowing infcription on a ftatue of Minerva, or Ifis, 
C at 



EGYPTIAN TRADITIONS. 



at Sais : — " I am whatever is, whatever was, what- 
ever fhall be, and mortal never yet has raifed the 
veil that covers me." 

We fee, then, that the Egyptian theology 
had two fignifications, one facred and fymbolical, 
the other vulgar and literal. The reprefentation 
of animals in their temples which they feemed 
to adore, wer£ only hieroglyphicks, intended as 
fymbols of divine attributes. 

It is by comparing thefe different obfervations, 
that we fhall be enabled to comprehend how the 
Egyptians, fo famous for the vaftnefs of their 
works, the wifdom of their laws, and cuftoms, 
and their extenfive knowledge of the fciences, 
Ihould at the fame time be fo blinded by fuper- 
ftition, as to worfhip infects, reptiles, plants, 
and animals. Hiftorians both facred and pro- 
phane, fpeak of this as one of the wifeft of 
nations ; and one of the eulogiums which the 
infpired writings pafs on Mofes, and on Solomon, 
is, that they were Ikilled in all the fciences of 
the Egyptians. We muft carefully diftinguifh 
then, between the ignorance which reigned among 
the multitude, and the profound wifdom of thofc 
who cultivated the fciences, and had read the works 
attributed to Hermes Trifmegiftus, or thrice great* 

According to this celebrated man, cc God 
<l exifted in his folar unity before all beings* 

« He 



EGYPTIAN TRADITIONS* 19 

* He is the fource of all that is intelligent. The 
Cf firft incomprehenfible principle* Himfelf all- 
ff iufricient, and father of all eu^ences." 

We are under no apprehenfion of fatiguing our 
readers by thefe quotations. Every one endowed 
with the gift of reafon muft wifh to know the 
idea which the firft philofophers of the world 
entertained of the Divinity* 

We fhall like wife give the celebrated Zoroafter's 
definition of him ; it is the mod beautiful pro- 
duction of antiquity. Eufebius has preferved it 
in his Evangelical Preparation; he tranfcribed 
it literally from a book of Zoroafter's (till extant 
in his time, entitled A Sacred Collection of 
Perfian Monuments. 

God is the firft of incorruptibles, eternal not 
begotten. He is not compofed of parts, there 
is nothing like him, or equal to him : He is 
the author of all good, the moft excellent of 
all excellent beings, and the wifeft of all intel- 
ligences ; the father of juftice and good lawsj 
felf-inftructed, all-fufficient in himfelf, and the 
original author of all nature. 

Thefe fublime definitions of the divinity, 
prove that there have exifted fome men of a 
knowledge fuperior to the ages in which they 
lived, who had collected the information pre- 
ferved by ancient traditions 3 but their number 
was fo fmall, that they were not funicient to 

c 2 flop 



to EGYPTIAN TRADITIONS. 

ftop the progrefs of ignorance, and the moft 
abfurd idolatry. 

The farther we advance in the knowledge of 
mythology, the more clearly we fhall perceive 
that the greater part of their divinities were 
either men rendered illuftrious by their actions, 
or beings entirely fabulous. A flric"l examina- 
tion will fhew us, that the majority of fictions 
owe their birth to ignorance or flattery. 

But to give them authority, it was neceflary 
to attribute to them a divine origin, and to 
drefs them in the moil amiable colours; in 
thefe irregular fancies the poets indulged them- 
felves the more freely, as they were certain of 
being Hipp or ted by the pafiions, and inclinations 
of men. 

Truth was covered with a veils falfehood, as 
it were, came and threw over her his garments, 
and the better to conceal his impofture, he 
left her fome of her moft pleafing qualities, nay 
he even perfidioufly undertook to embellifh them. 

It is thus the poets have disfigured ancient 
events, the remembrance of which had been pre- 
ferved by tradition, and religious fongs. 

Since religion has difpelled the darknefs of 
idolatry, it has been found neceflary to give a 
new name to a collection of fables, which ftill 
poflefTed many charms, as they were adorned 
with all the beauties of poetry. 

They 



EGYPTIAN TRADITIONS. 21 

They are called Mythology : a word de~ 
rived from Mythos — fabulous, and Logos — - 
difcourfe. 

After having pointed out the difference between 
the poets and philofophers, it ftill remains for us 
to obferve, that it was among the eaftern nations, 
and particularly the Egyptians, that the moft 
celebrated men of the eaft acquired their greateft 
knowledge. 

This was the fchool of Thales, Pythagoras, 
and Plato. Orpheus, whofe principles the Pytha- 
goreans adopted, and who lived long before 
Hefiod and Homer, went for inftruclion into 
Egypt; it was from thence he brought the 
following definition of the Divinity, 

^ There exifts an unknown being, who is the 
higheft, and moft ancient of all beings, and author 
of all things ; this fublime being is life, light, 
and knowledge. Thefe three names are expreflive 
of that power, which, out of nothing, formed all 
things, Cf vifible and invifible/' 

In a fecond paffage, not lefs eloquent, he gives 
a name to this unknown being : 

cc The univerfe was formed by Jupiter; the 
heavens, profound Tartarus, the earth, and 
ocean, the immortal gods and goddeffes; what- 
ever is, whatever was, whatever lhall be, were 
originally contained in, and proceed from, the 

c 3 • fruitful 



22 EGYPTIAN TRADITIONS. 

fruitful bofom of Jupiter. He is the firft and 
the laft, the beginning and the end. All beings 
are emanations from him, he is the life and caufe 
of all things ; he is the firft father, there is 
only one power, one god, one king, who go- 
verns all." 

Such were the fublime ideas Orpheus received 
from the Egyptians $ but they were only com- 
municated to him* becaufe he had been initiated 
into the language called facred, and into the 
knowledge of myfteries, which were concealed 
from the multitude. 

We mall fee in the courfe of this work, under 
the article demi-gods and heroes, who were the 
chiefs, that led the Egyptian and Phoenician 
colonies into Greece. 

We mall at the fame time fee, that by intro- 
ducing their laws, cuftoms, arts, and divinities; 
they likewife introduced the knowledge of ancient 
traditions which they had corrupted. 

This curfory view is fufficient to mew that 
the fables of antiquity are founded upon real 
events. 



THE 



ORIGIN OF IDOLATRY. 



8 3 



THE ORIGIN OF IDOLATRY, 

The word idolatry is derived from two 
Greek words, which fignify worjhip and repre- 
Jentation. 

It appears that it is in the family of Cham 
we muft feek for the firft appearance of idolatry. 
The unhappy children of a father already labour- 
ing under a parent's curfe, were the firft to 
forget the wife counfel of Noah, and abandon- 
ing themfelves to their pafiions, fought fenfiblc 
objects to which they might pay their fuper- 
ftitious adoration. The two fons of Cham, 
Chanaan, and Mifraim, having fettled in Phoe- 
nicia and Egypt, we may fuppofe it was in thefe 
two countries that idolatry had its birth. Lucian 
fays exprefsly, that the Egyptians were the firft 
who paid folemn adoration to the gods. Hero- 
dotus, at the beginning of his hiftory, fays 
confidently, the Egyptians were the firft who 
diftinguifhed the twelve principal gods by their 
names; and it is from them, that the Greeks 
acquired their knowledge of thefe divinities. 
Sacred hiftory itfelf defcribes Egypt as the centre 
of idolatry. 

There, it fays in different places, reigned 
magic, divinations, foothfayings, and interpre- 

c 4 Cations 



*4 FIRST OBJECT OT IDOLATRY. 

tations of dreams, the unhappy fruits of idolatrous 
worfhip. 

In the. time of Mofes, idolatry was at its 
higher! pitch. He even feems to have given the 
Jews fo great a number of precepts only to render 
their "ceremonies entirely the reverfe of thofe of 
the Egyptians. 

This then is undoubtedly the country where 
idolatry firft began; from thence it fpread into 
the eafi:, into the countries inhabited by the 
defendants of Shemj into Chaldea, Mefopo- 
tamia, and the adjacent parts ; it was afterwards 
carried into the weft, among the children of 
Japhet, that is into Afia Minor, Greece, and the 
neighbouring ifles. 

In Egypt, and Phoenicia, then^ idolatry had 
its birth. 



THE FIRST OBJECT OF IDOLATRY. 

Mjen perceiving the earth to be filled 
with good and evil, and having no longer the 
facred traditions to guide them, could not believe 
that a being, who is hirnfelf eflentially good, 
could *be the author of evil ; they, therefore, 
imagined two divinities equal in power, and both 
eternal. One, which was called the good prin- 
ciple, 



FIRST OBJECT OF IDOLATRY. 25 

ciple, they fuppofed the author of all good ; the 
other, which they called the bad principle, the 
author of all evil. 

Zoroafter found this doctrine eftablifhed among 
the Perfians. It is not known who this Zoroafter 
was, nor the precife time in which he lived. 
Some learned men agree with Vofiius, in thinking 
him to be Mifraim himfelf, the fon of Cham, 
who after the death of his father was called 
Zoroafter, that is, the living ftar; becaufe he 
taught the Egyptians to worfhip the ftars. But 
this opinion by no means agrees with the fublime 
definition of the divinity, taken from the works 
of Zoroafter himfelf, which we quoted fome 
time back. A learned Englifh author, Tho- 
mas Hyde, who was better acquainted with the 
religion of the ancient Perfians than Vofiius, has 
fully juftified Zoroafter, by proving that this cele- 
brated man, far from having introduced idolatry 
among the firft Egyptians, never lived among 
them, and was known to the Perfians alone in the 
time of Darius Hydafpes. He fays, he employed 
all his efforts to deftroy thofe abfurd opinions 
which men entertained, and to bring back the 
moft reafonabk, to the knowledge of one fingle 
principal Creator of heaven and earth : but find- 
ing the worfhip of ftars and planets the prevailing 
religion, and unwilling to offer too great violence to 
their underftandings, towards the fun, the principle 
6 of 



26 FIRST OBJECT OF IDOLATRY. 

of fertility to the earth, he inftituted fome reli- 
gious ceremonies, which are ftill pra&ifed in India 
among the Magi who are defendants of the an- 
cient Perfians. Mr. Hyde adds, they adore but 
one God, the principle of all beings, and if 
they honour fire and the fun, it is becaufe they 
regard them as the pureft emblems of the 
Creator, and the temple where he has eflablifhed 
his throne. 

Thefe magi are now very few in number. 
However it may be, the idolatry of the two prin- 
ciples, was of very ancient date in Egypt - } and it 
was to exprefs this that the Egyptians in their 
Theology — which abounds in fymbols — faid, that 
Ofiris had inclofed in the egg, from which the 
world was originally produced, twelve white pyra- 
midical figures, to denote the infinite number of 
bie flings he intended to mower down upon men ; 
but that Typhon his brother, the author of evil, 
having opened this egg, introduced twelve black 
pyramids, the caufes of ail the miferies with which 
the earth is over-run. 

The Perfians gave the name of Oromafes to the 
good principle, and that of Ah man to the bad. 

The Chaldeans reprefented them, under their 
benign and malignant planets. 



THE 



SECOND OBJECT OF IDOLATRY. 



2 7 



THE SECOND OBJECT OF IDOLATRY. 

However ancient the doctrine of the 
two principles may be, many learned men are 
of opinion that the adoration of the rears is (till 
more fo. The idea of the divinity having never 
been entirely loft, it is probable that man, though 
by nature weak, yet proud, did not at firft pay 
divine honours to his fellow-creatures: Grander 
objects were necefTary to feduce him. The fun 
by its beauty, the luftre of its beams, the regularity 
with which it by turns illumines the whole earth, 
and every where Ipreads fertility, led ignorant 
men (already corrupted) to believe there was 
another God ; or at lead that this luminary was 
the throne of the divinity. 

Men incapable of conceiving the fublime idea 
of an invifible, and immaterial fubfrance, faw 
nothing in nature fo beautiful as the fun ; pro- 
bably even gratitude had fome fnare in their 
adoration ; they could not doubt but it was the 
fertilizing principle of nature, and as the difpenfer 
of all that was agreeable or ufeful to the human 
/pedes, thought it entitled to their homage. 

The name of Sabifm, was given to that worfhip 
which was paid to ftars and planets. 

The 



&8 PROGRESS OF IDOLATRY. 

The learned are not agreed concerning the ety- 
mology of this appellation but the mo ft eflential 
for us to know, is, that this feci is the moft ancient, 
and moft numerous, of any mentioned in hiftory; 
even more fo, than that of the two principles ; 
and that it ftill fubfifts among feveral American 
nations. The infpired writings inform us, that 
it began a little after the deluge, fince it was 
known in the time of Abraham, Thares, and Sarug, 



THE PROGRESS OF IDOLATRY. 

When the firft men feparated, they fell 
into a ftate of the grofteft barbarity. The Greeks, 
afterwards fo learned and polite, owe their know- 
ledge entirely to the colonies which fettled among 
them. Yet idolatry at firft was net a fyftem 
founded upon reafon, nothing was more abfurd 
than the religion and ceremonies of the original 
idolaters. 

In the time of Cecrops, the Athenians only 
offered Jupiter fimple cakes. The firft Scythi- 
ans adored a fcymeter; the Arabians a rough 
Irone. In the ifle of Orcades, the image of Diana 
was a piece of unwrought wood j at Citheron, 
Juno was only the trunk of a tree - 3 at Samos, a 

fimple 



PROGRESS OF IDOLATRY. 29 

fimple plank. But the invention of arts gave k 
rapid progrefs to Idolatry. Well-formed ftatues 
infpired refpecl, and men began to think, that the 
Gods whom they reprefented took pleafure in 
inhabiting them. 

From the worfhip of the liars, they proceeded to 
that of heaven, the elements, feas, rivers, &c. at 
laft even illuftrious men were ranked among their 
deities. 

The invention of an ufeful art, the beauty of a 
work, gratitude for benefits, conjugal or maternal 
tendernefs, thefe caufed temples and altars to be 
raifed, portraits to be honoured, and woods and 
afylums to be confecrated. 

This fpeeies of worfhip began in Egypt a mort 
time after the death of Ofiris, and His : both of them 
having diftinguiihed themfelves by their brilliant 
exploits, and by the invention of feveral ufeful arts, 
the grateful people thought they could not make 
them fo proper a return as by railing them to the 
rank of divinities but as they couid not without 
manifeft abfurdity call beings immortal who were 
juft dead, it was pretended that their fouls were 
returned to the ftars, whence they originally 
defcended to animate their bodies. 

It was thus they came to be looked upon as 
the fun and moon, and to have their worfhip con- 
founded with that of thofe two luminaries. 

k is here likewife we are probably to look 

for 



3# DIFFERENT SPECIES OF F ABIE'S* 

for the origin of the metempfychofis, or tranfmn 
gration of fouls, an idea which was by after 
generations fo ftrangely abufed. After the celeftial 
bodies, each particular part of nature became the 
object of adoration, and had its prefiding deity. 

The earth was worshipped under the names of 
Rhea, Tellus, Ops, Cybele, Proferpine, Maia, 
Ffora, Faunus, Pales, &c. 



OF THE DIFFERENT SPECIES OF FABLES. 

The fables of the poets may be divided 
Into fix claries, the hiftorical, philofophical, alle- 
gorical, moral, the mixed, and thofe invented 
at pleafure. 

The hiftorical are compofed of ancient hiftories, 
which they have interlarded with fiction. Such 
are thofe of Hercules and Jafon. Inftead of faying, 
that the former drained the marines of Lerna* 
overflowed by numberlefs rivulets ; this marfh is* 
reprefented under the figure of an hydra which 
Hercules vanquished : when Jafon went to demand, 
reftitution of the treafure carried by Phrixus to 
Colchis, inftead of defcribing the fact, the fable 
of the golden fleece was invented. 

Yet the Greeks, notwithstanding their predi- 
lection for fables, were not fatisned with them 
i alone, 



DIFFERENT SPECIES OF FABLES. 31 

alone, they frequently wifhed only to embelliui 
their hiftories by ornamenting them with the graces 
of poetry. 

The greater! men of antiquity have always 
looked upon the ancient poets as the firft hiilo- 
rians. Alexander would not fo much have admired 
Homer, nor have envied Achilles in having had 
fuch an able panegyrift, had he looked upon him 
fimply as a writer of fiction: he was very certain 
that the poet prefer ved the principal exploits, 
and painted the true character of his heroes. 

Philofophical fables, are thofe which the ancients 
invented, as parables, to conceal the myfteries of 
their Ipeeulative or natural philofophy. 

Thus, they faid, the ocean was the father of 
rivers; and that the moon efpoufed the air, and 
was the mother of the dew. 

The allegorical, were likewife parables, which 
had a fecret meaning, or implied fenfe ; as the fable 
which fays, that pleafure was the offspring of 
riches and poverty, to fhew that the one does 
not exclude happinefs, and that the other is not 
fufficient to infure it. 

Moral fables, are thofe which inculcate precepts 
for the improvement of our manners. 

Of this fort is that which fays, that Jupiter fent 
the ftars upon earth by day, to inform themfelves of 
the actions of men, and give him an account of them- 

The 



32 DtFFERENT SPECIES OP FABLES. 

The fables of Efop, Lafontaine, and apologues 
in general, are of this kind. 

Mixed fables, are a compofition of allegory and 
morality, without any thing hiftorical; fuch as 
that of Ate, related by Homer. She was the 
daughter of Jupiter, but made mifchief her whole 
Hudy. Detefted equally by Gods and men, Jupiter 
feized her by the hair, precipitated her from heaven, 
and fwore an oath that me mould never return. 

By this fable the poet wilhed to reprefent the 
propenfity of man to evil. 

This female, fays he, traverfes the whole 
earth, with incredible fwiftnefs ; her fifters, called 
Prayers, likewife daughters of Jupiter, always follow 
her, to counteract, as far as pofiible, her deteflable 
machinations $ but unfortunately being lame, they 
cannot keep pace with their filler ; which implies 
that evil in its operations is always more prompt, 
and real, than reparation and repentance. 

The laft defcription of fables, are thofe which 
have no other object than to amufe, or to difplay 
£ brilliant imagination, and invention. 

Thofe that were called Milefian, were of this 
number, fo were the Sybaritides, which took their 
name from the inhabitants of Sybaris, a people 
entirely addicted to their pleafures. 

Thefe include nearly every fpecies of s fables; 
but we muft remember, that there are very few 

which 



DIFFERENT SPECIES OF FABLES* 3^ 

Vhich we meet with in the ancient poets, which do 
not contain fome hiflorical fact. 

When Homer fays, that Eolus gave Ulyffes 
the winds inclofed in a fkin, and that his com- 
panions let them efcape, it is an hiflorical fact; 
which teaches us, that this prince had cautioned 
Ulylfes not to expofe himfelf to a tempeftuous 
wind, which would blow in a few days; but the 
companions of Ulyffes perfifted in purfuing their 
courfe, and were wrecked > for having refufed to 
attend to the advice of Eolus. 

Likewife, Atlas was a prince and an aftronomer, 
who made ufe of a fphere, to ftudy the motions 
of the heavenly bodies. 

The ftory reprefents him, as bearing the hea- 
vens upon his moulders. 

Proteus was a prince, wife, prudent, eloquent, 
and politic ; they defcribed his character, by fay- 
ing, he had the power of changing his form at 
pleafure. 

Dedalus invented fails for vefifeis inftead of 
oars, and by this means efcaped the vengeance of 
•Minos ; he is faid to have made himfelf wings; 
an exprefiive method of defcribing the velocity of 
velfels with fails. 

It is thus writers have disfigured hiftory, by- 
endeavouring to embellifh it with the charms of 
poetry. Such particularly was the genius of the 

D eaftern 



34 CONJECTURES CONCERNING 

eaftern nations, from whom we have received the 
greater part of our fables. 

This fpirit flill reigns among them, and to this 
day their writings, which abound in parables > 
prove, that they now are, what the Greeks were 
when fi&ion was at its greateft height. 



CONJECTURES CONCERNING THE ORIGIN 
OF FABLES. 

On feeing every people of the earth 
(except the people of God) eagerly adopt thefe 
fi&ions, and make them the foundation of their 
religion, morality, and government, it becomes 
indifpenfably neceffary to endeavour to difcover 
the origin of an error fo univerfal, and fo fatal to 
mankind. The ftudy of truth is neither longer 
nor more difficult than that of error. And it 
would be a crime towards youth, not to employ 
our beft faculties and endeavours, in giving them 
juft ideas concerning the natural propenfity of 
man to evil. They ftand in need of a light to 
enable them to fee through the delufion. 

It is only by being habituated to found their rea- 
fonings and conclusions upon the beft authorities, 
fureft principles, and molt folid bafes, that they 

can 



THE. ORIGIN OF FABLES. 35 

can be fecured from random conjectures, and de» 
lufive fyftems. 

In vain has pretended modern philofophy en- 
deavoured to avail itfelf of the obfcurity in which 
the firft ages of the world are involved, to render 
it a fource of its doubts and fophifms : the veftiges 
which remain of the moll unenlightened periods^ 
prove to a demonftration, that all men have felt 
the necefiity of a fupreme deity, director, and 
creator of all things. 

The fame neceffity obliged them to acknow- 
ledge themfelves in a {rate of dependance on this 
powerful being, and that they owed him adoration. 
The facred writings inform us, that this worfhip 
was prefcribed by the Divinity himfelf, and the 
account we have given in the preceding chapters, 
is fufficient to mow, that facred tradition has been 
disfigured, in proportion as corruption overfpread 
the earth. 

The moment the firft link of that facred chain 
was broken, man was hurried on from error to 
error; the human imagination could never fupply 
the place of eternal wifdom. 

Vanity was one of the principal fources of 
fiction. Truth was found not fuiriciently fur- 
prifing, not fufficiently attractive ; they decked 
her with borrowed .ornaments, and thought to 
magnify the reputation of heroes, by afcribing to 
£hem actions they had never performed.. They 
d 2 pro- 



36 CONJECTURES CONCERNING, &C. 

probably even propofed thefe imaginary models 
as more powerful incitements to virtue. But by 
permitting themfelves to be thus led away by a 
tafte for the marvellous, they at laft deprived 
illuftrious men of all the merit they might have 
poffeffed. 

For inflance, when Perfeus flays Medufa, he 
furprifes her fleeping ; if he delivers Andromeda, 
he has the wings of Mercury. Achilles is clad 
with impenetrable arms forged by Vulcan. They 
went fo far as to lavilli on their heroes all the 
attributes of Gods. 

It is thus we are blinded by vanity and other 
paflions, which mifs of their intended object, by 
being carried to excefs. 

Before the invention of letters, great events and 
brilliant exploits were no otherwife recorded, than 
in the memory of men, or at moft only by a few 
obfcure hieroglyphicks. 

The remembrance of celebrated actions, then, 
w r as preferved by tradition ; but experience 
proves, how feldom it is, that even the moft 
fimple narrations are not mixed with fome em- 
belliihing circumftances. 

When in the courfe of time men wifhed to 
write thefe actions, they found nothing but confufed 
traditions, and by giving them a place in hiftory, 
they have in fome degree eternized fictions. 



FABLES 



FABLES INTRODUCED BY A LOVE, &C. 37 



FABLES INTRODUCED BY A LOVE OF THE 
MARVELLOUS. 

Experience mows us what influence the 
marvellous has over the human mind. 

It is not difficult to perceive the caufe it hopes 
to enlarge itfelf by believing in whatever is fupe- 
rior to itfelf. In the fame manner it finds charms 
in whatever furprifes it. 

Abfolute filence and tranquillity refemble death, 
man is terrified at them 3 he muft neceffarily be in 
motion. 

The fight of any extraordinary event fatisfies 
his ever active curiofity, and he feems in fome 
meafure to participate in the heroic deeds which 
he fees, or hears related. 

He who conceives thefe actions in his fertile 
imagination, infpires a belief that he could not have 
invented them, had he not been capable of exe- 
cuting them; and he who hears, or reads them 
with enthufiafm, perfuades himfelf in like manner, 
that they would not have been fuperior to his own 
ftrength; both of them only fee a degree of 
excellence which their pride leads them to fup- 
pofe they could attain. 

The panegyriit of Achilles was more concerned 
for his own glory, than for that of his hero. 

d 3 Were 



$8 FABLES INTRODUCED BY A LOVE 

Were the mod celebrated poems diverted of 
all their ornaments, we mould be furprifed at the 
mediocrity of the events they record. 

The Iliad, the Odyfifey, the iEneid, would be 
of little confequence, without the prefence of the 
gods, and that perpetual mixture of facts, little 
interefting, with fictions which engage our atten- 
tion. 

The ignorance of natural philofophy has like- 
wife given rife to many fabulous {lories. In the 
ages of ignorance, whatever {truck the fenfes, 
they fuppofed to be animated 3 rivers, fountains, 
liars, &c. but as they could not have a very clear 
idea of the latter, they dreaded their influences, and 
to appeafe them, when they thought them irritated, 
paid them divine honours; when any one more 
enlightened than the reft, attempted to correct 
thefe errors, he was accufed of impiety ; the un- 
happy Anaxagoras was punifhed with death, for 
having faid the fun was not animated, but only a 
plate of fteel. 

One of the moft fertile fources of fiction, was 
the ignorance of ancient hiftory and chronology. 

The ufe of letters began very late among the 
Greeks feveral ages elapfed, during which they 
had no knowledge of remarkable events but by 
tradition. Even when writing was in ufe they 
did not at firft write connected hiftories. It ferved 
only to record fome panegyricks, hymns, and 
1 genealo- 



OF THE MARVELLOUS. 39 

genealogies, abounding in fiction, fo that confu- 
fion reigned every where ; and whenever we 
wilh to examine thefe genealogies, after having 
traced thern for three or four generations, we 
find ourfelves at the hiftory of the gods, and every 
where meet with Jupiter, Saturn, Ccelum, or Terra. 

The Greeks were equally ignorant of their 
origin ; the major part thought they fprung from 
the ants of the foreft of iEgina. Yet as they 
wifhed to be thought very ancient, they flattered 
themfelves by citing gods, heroes, and kings, 
who never had exifted : and when they fpoke of 
thofe remote periods, of which they had acquired 
a flight knowledge from the colonies who fettled 
among them, they conftantly fubftituted fictions 
for truth. 

Their fables evidently bore the marks of ancient 
traditions, but they were fo confufed, that Ariftotle 
himfelf reproaches them with being mere infants, 
when they wifhed to converfe of ancient times. 

The vanity of the Greeks went fo far as to be- 
lieve the whole world had been peopled by their 
colonies. 

It is not then from them we muft inform our- 
felves of the people of antiquity, the original 
deities, and the firft fables. 

Their hiftory does not begin to merit any degree 
of confidence, till the time of the olympiads. 



D 4 



DIVISION 



4* 



DIVISION OF TIME 



DIVISION OF TIME ACCORDING TO VARRO, 

To throw greater light on the period 
when fables began, we muft follow Varro, and 
like him diftinguifh time into three divisions. The 
unknown, the fabulous, and the hiftorical. 

The firft, which was in fome manner the infancy 
of the world, comprifes what parTed from chaos, 
or the creation, to the deluge of Ogyges, which 
happened about i6qo years before the birth of 
Chrift, 

The fecond reaches from that period to the 
firft olympiad, where begins the hiftorical. 

This celebrated divifion of Varro, can only 
regard the hiftories of the Greeks, and Romans $ 
for the Egyptians, Chaldeans, Phoenicians, and' 
ancient inhabitants of the Eaft, are confiderably 
better acquainted with diftant ages. They had 
their traditions, and their annals, though cer- 
tainly they are rnuch intermixed with fiction. 

The Greeks had no certain knowledge of the 
firft ages of the world 5 and when they arrive at 
the times called Heroic, they involve them in fp 
much obfeurity, that the hiftory of them is abfo- 
lutely disfigured. 

The period of the Trojan war, particularly, fo 

fertile 



ACCORDING TO VARRO. 41 

fertile in heroes, produced an infinite number of 
fictions. 

This celebrated city was twice taken, firft by- 
Hercules, and about thirty years after by the 
Grecian army, under the command of Aga- 
memnon. 

It was at the time of its firft capture that Her- 
cules, Telamon, Thefeus, Jafon, Orpheus, Caftor 
and Pollux — names which their mutual friendship 
has rendered infeparable — appeared then flou- 
rimed all thofe heroes who participated in the 
conqueft of the Golden Fleece. 

At the fecond taking of Troy, appeared the 
fons, or grandfons, of the above; Agamemnon, 
Menelaus, Achilles, Diomedes, Ajax, Hector, 
UlyfTes, Priam, Paris, Eneas, &c. 

In the interval between the time of the firft 
and fecond capture, we mould place the two 
Theban wars, in which appeared Adraftus, 
CEdipus, Eteocles, Polynices, Capaneus, and fe- 
veral others, the conftant objects of poetical 
Action. 

It was not till the eftablifhment of the olym- 
piads, that the hiftory of Greece affumed at laft 
; a regular form, and that events were clafled under 
their proper epochs. 



THE 



4 2 



OLYMPIC GAMES. 



THE OLYMPIC GAMES. 

It is not clearly determined at what time 
thefe games were inftituted. 

Their origin is very obfcure. 

Diodorus Siculus only fays, that Hercules of 
Crete was the firfl founder of them, without 
telling us at what time, or on what occafion. 
The molt common opinion among the learned 
is, that they wen r iflablifhed by Peiops, and that 
the firfl celebration took place at Elis, in the 
twenty-ninth year of the reign of Acrifius, the 
twenty-fourth of Sicyon, nineteenth king of 
Sicyon ; and- to compare prophane epochs with 
facred, it was in the twenty-fourth year of 
Deborah, who judged I frael. 

Atreus, fon of Peiops, revived them, and 
ordered their fecond celebration, 141 8 years 
before the time of our Saviour. Laflly, Her- 
cules, at his return from the conquer! of the 
Golden Fleece, afTembled the Argonauts in Elis, 
to celebrate thefe games, in gratitude for the 
happy fuccefs of their expedition, and they agreed 
to affemble there for the fame purpofe every 
fourth ear. 

However, thefe games were difcontinued till 
the reign of Iphitus, king of Elis, that is, -during 

a fpace 



EFFECTS PRODUCED IN GREECE, &C. 43 

a Ipace of 442 years ; and it was then that the 
Greeks took them for their principal epoch. 

They now counted only by olympiads, and it 
is from that time that we find lefs fiction in their 
hiftory. 



EFFECTS produced in GREECE, and in the WEST, 
by the arrival of EASTERN COLONIES. 

When the Pfibdfi&ftes, or Egyptians, 
came to fettle in Greece, they were obliged to 
learn the eftablifhed language of the country; 
but they mult have preferved many words from 
their own language, particularly thofe which 
v/ere employed in the new laws, cufloms, and 
religions, which they introduced among the 
Greeks. 

Thefe latter, in adopting their innovations, made 
ufe of their terms which quickly produced a con- 
fufion of the two languages. 

Some time after, when the Greeks wifhed to 
read their ancient hiftory, they found it full of 
Phoenician words, which they did not fail to 
explain favourably to their tafte for fiction, 
and often abufed the ambiguity which fre- 
quently occurs in the Phoenician language. For 
inftance, the word Mfha or Upha, fignified 

equally 



44 EFFECTS PRODUCED IN GREECE, &C. 

equally a bull or a mips whence the Greeks 
took occafion to fay, that Jupiter, ia the form 
of a bull, had carried off the young Europa, 
initead of faying he carried her in a fhip to the 
ifland of Crete, where he reigned. 

The fable of the Fountain Arethufa, and the River 
Alpheus, is likewife founded upon an equivocal 
expreffion. The Phoenicians on landing in Sicily 
found a fountain furrounded with willows, which 
they called Alphaga, that is the fountain of willows. 
In procefs of time, the Greeks, on their arrival 
in the fame country, recollecting their river 
Alpheus, which flows through Elis, faid that the 
waters of that river paffed under the fea, to join 
thofe of the fountain Arethufa. 

The more we ftudy their origin, the more we 
are forced to acknowledge, that the major part of 
the Grecian fables were an imitation of thofe of 
the Oriental colonies. 

At the time when the inhabitants of the weft 
{till lived in the grofTeft ignorance and barbarifm, 
Egypt was the feat of arts and politenefs. 

It was the Egyptians and Phoenicians who 
taught them to build cities, clothe themfelves, 
and live in a fcate of fociety. from them they 
received their religious ceremonies, their worfhip, 
and their facrifices and the Greeks by adopt- 
ing their religion, adopted likewife all their 
fables. 

The 



HESIOD AND HOMER. '45 

The worfhip of Bacchus was modelled after 
that of Ofiris ; Orpheus obtained his fyftem of 
the infernal regions from the Egyptians ; it was 
there Pythagoras borrowed his idea of the trans- 
migration of fouls. 

Thefe proofs are more than fufrlcient to fhew 
that the fables of the Greeks and Romans 
were originally received from Egypt and Phoe- 
nicia. If we find fome difference, it is becaufe 
the Greeks, to their paffion for fiction, added a 
defire of appearing very ancient ; they endea- 
voured at once to conceal both their ignorance and 
their recent origin. 

They were afhamed of owing all to foreign 
nations $ and the hope of infpiring a belief that 
all had originated with themfelves, induced them 
to alter names, adventures, and even religious 
ceremonies. 



OF HESIOD AND HOMER. 

The name of Homer never prefents itfelf 
to the mind, without exciting the tribute of admi- 
ration. 

<c Who is then this wonderful man, (fays the 
author of the travels of the young Anacharfis,) 
whofe glory only increafes with revolving ages, 

and 



4^ HESIOD AND HOMER. 

and of whom the human intellect no more Is jealous,, 
than of the beams of the bright luminary of day V* 

Hefiod and Homer are not the inventors of the 
Greek fables, they only enriched them with new 
ornaments ; idolatry was antecedent to the age in 
which they wrote. 

It is probable that more ancient poets had left 
them models, which they have furpaffed; for it 
is hardly probable, that the firft e flays of Grecian 
poetry fhould be patterns of excellence. 

Before the time of Homer the fiege of Troy 
was univerfally fung, and hymns were compofed 
in honour of the Grecian gods, before the exift- 
ence of his poems. 

Hefiod and Homer contented themfelves with 
following the principles of the theology of their 
country, the fyftem of which had been introduced 
by Cecrops, Cadmus, and other leaders of 
colonies. 

Homer then was only the panegyrift, not the 
inventor of his gods ; he conforms to the theology 
of his time, and as he wiflies at once to pleafe 
and avoid obfeurity, he does not depart from the 
fyftem of religion eftablifhed in his country. 

We mull not then look upon him as the inventor 
and creator of fo many gods and abfurd cuftoms. 



THE 



THE GODS OF THE GREEKS, &C. 



47 



THE GODS OF THE GREEKS, AND ROMANS, 
AND OTHER WESTERN NATIONS. 

The preceding reflections are fufficient to 
ihew that idolatry originated among the eaftern 
nations: this is the reafon^why we have divided 
the pagan deities into two clafles, the gods of the 
call, and thofe of the weft. 
. Concerning the former we mall extend our 
refearches no farther. Though a knowledge of 
this part of mythology is extremely interefting, 
and even neceflary, in order to fhew the origin of 
fable and idolatry ; yet the principal object of 
this work being to enable our readers to travel 
with advantage, and to form a juft opinion of the 
principal performances of the poets, and artifts, 
we mail principally dwell upon the different 
branches of the Greek and Roman mythology, 
and mail devote the reft of this work to that pur- 
pofe taking care at the fame time to make hifto- 
rical comparisons, and give every explanation 
requifite to conned the former and the follow- 
ing parts. 

The pagan deities may be divided into the 
celeftial, the marine, the terreftrial, and the infer- 
nal. We mall afterwards come to the fubaltern 
divinities, of whofe refidence they had no deter- 
mined idea, 

OF 



4 8 



CELESTIAL DEITIES- 



Of THE CELESTIAL DEITIES. 

VarKo, the greateft of pagan theologians, 
makes the number of thefe to amount to thirty* 
thoufand, which will not appear furprifing, when 
we confider that they had invented deities to 
prefide over every diftinct part of the univerfe, 
and over ail the paffions, and neceffities of life. 
Befides, at the fame time that different nations 
or cities adored the fame god under the name of 
Jupiter, each of them pretended to have their own 
particular Jupiter. 

Varro reckons more than three hundred of 
this name. It was the fame with the other gods 
and demi-gods : more than forty of the name 
of Hercules were reckoned. But, as diflenGon 
might arife among fo many different divinities, 
the pagans perceived the neceffity of believing, 
and maintaining, that there was one fuperior to 
the reft, called Beftiny, or Fate* This god, 
whom they fuppofed blind, governed every 
thing by an abfolute neceffity; Jupiter himfelf, 
the firft and greateft of gods, was forced to 
fubmit to his decrees. 

Deftiny had his religious worfhip ; but as 
he could not be comprehended by the human 

mind, 



DIFFERENT ORDERS OF THE DEITIES. 49 

mind, they never dared determine his form, fo 
that his ftatue was never worfhipped, like thofe 
of the other gods : they endeavoured, however, 
to give a reprefentation of him : and it was 
under the figure of an old man, holding an 
urn between his hands, which contained the lot 
of mortals. 

They placed a book before him in which 
were recorded future events : all the gods, with- 
out exception, were obliged to confuk this book, 
becaufe they could do nothing contrary to its 
decrees, and it was only by reading it, that 
they could obtain a knowledge of futurity. 
This idea of Deftiny is the moft ftriking ac- 
knowledgement, men could poffibly have made, 
of the neceflity of a fupreme and only God. 
But having once loft the inftruclions given by 
the Almighty to the firft patriarchs, it was no 
longer in their power to define and compre- 
hend the Divine Being, 



DIFFERENT ORDERS OF THE DEITIES. 

The gods were divided into four orders. 
The firft comprifed the -fupreme gods, who 
were likewife called gods of the nations, becaufe 
they were known, and revered by every nation : 

E they 



$0 DIFFERENT ORDERS OF THE DEITIES. 

they were twenty in number of whom Jupiter 
was the chief and principal. 

The fecond order included the gods,, whom 
Ovid {tiled the celeftial populace, they were called 
the inferior gods of nations ; they had no place in 
heaven, nor were they admitted to the council of 
Jupiter y Pan, Pomona, Flora, and the other rural 
deities were of this clafs. 

The third order was compofed of demi gods, 
who derived their origin from a god and a mortal; 
or a goddefs and a mortal. 

Such were Hercules, Efculapius, Caftor and 
Pollux, &c. Heroes, likewife, who by their 
illuftrious valour had raifed themfelves to the rank 
of immortals, had a place among thefe. 

The fourth order contained the virtues which 
had formed great men, as Fidelity, Concord, Cou- 
rage, Prudence, &c. - 3 and even the miferies of life,, 
as Poverty, Pain, &c. 

The twenty gods of the flrft order were divided 
into two claffes, the firfc, which was compofed 
of fix gods, and fix goddeffes, formed the council 
of Jupiter. 

The fix gods, were Jupiter, Neptune, Mercury, 
Apollo, Mars, and Vulcan. 

The fix goddeffes, Juno, Ceres, Minerva, Vefta> 
Diana, and Venus. 

The fecond clafs was compofed of eight divini- 
ties,, who did not affift at the fupreme council, 

they 



• PARTICULAR HISTORY OF THE GODS. £1 

they were called Dii Selefti, feledt gods; their 
names were Ccelus, Saturn, Genius, Orcus, Bac- 
chus, Sol, Terra, and Luna. 

Thofe divinities who were not of the firft or 
fecond clafs, were called Indigetes and Semones. 
The word Indigetes, fignifies acting as gods, and 
the word Semones, fignifies half- men, becaufe they 
were defcended from an immortal, either by the 
father or mother's fide. 



PARTICULAR HISTORY OF THE GODS. 

Before we give the hiftory of Jupiter, 
we think it necefTary to fpeak of Saturn his father, 
and Cybele his mother. 

The rank of thefe two divinities was confiderably 
inferior to that of Jupiter, who was chief and 
fovereign of the gods. 

Cybele and Saturn were not reckoned among 
the celeftial deities but the account we are about 
to give will ferve to illuftrate the hiftory of their 
ion Jupiter, 



SATURN, 



^2 SATURN, JANUS, THE GOLDEN AG£, 



SATURN, JANUS, THE GOLDEN AGE, AND 
THE MONTHS OF THE YEAR. 



called Uranus, was by their account the moil 
ancient of the gods ; as Vefta Prifca, or Titea, or 
Tellus, (names which exprefs the earth) was of 
the godde fifes. 

Their fons were called Titan and Saturn, which 
latter was the fame as Chronus or Time. 

The right of feniority infured the fucceftion 
of the kingdom to Titan, but he, in compliance 
with his mother's defire, yielded his right to his 
younger brother, on condition that he mould 
deftroy all his male children : Saturn, conformably 
to this agreement, devoured his fons the moment 
they were born. 

To compare this with hiftory, before we pro- 
ceed any farther, let us remark that the Phoeni- 
cian word Balab> fignifies equally to confine, and 
to devour. This ambiguity was fufficient to give 
rife to the inhuman ftory of a father devouring 
his children; but there is another explanation 
more natural, given by Cicero. 

The Greeks regarded Saturn, and Time, as the 
fame god. The name Chronos, which is given to 
him, fignifies time : now time being eternal, and 




'Celus or Heaven, whom the Greeks 



the 



AND THE MONTHS OF THE YEAR. 53 

the deftroyer of all, he mull: certainly fee his chil- 
dren perifh. 

This is the origin of that barbarous allegory. 

But to return to ou/ fabulous hiftory : Cybele 
having brought forth Jupiter, and at the fame 
time Juno, found 'means to conceal the former, 
and in his (lead gave Saturn a ftone, which he 
devoured. The preceding explanation is fuffi- 
cient; we mall only obferve that this pretended 
ftone afterwards became an object of veneration, 
and had divine honours paid to it, under the name 
of Abadir, or Abdir. 

Cybele wifhing to withdraw Jupiter from the 
fight of Saturn, had him fecretly tranfported to 
the ifland of Crete, where he was brought up by 
the Corybantes, or Curetes. 

The goat Amalthea fuckled him, and the two 
nymphs, Adrafta and Ida, fometimes called the 
Meliffe, took charge of his infancy. 

The poets relate, that to prevent Saturn from 
hearing the cries of Jupiter, the priefts of Cybele 
invented a fort of dance, in which they beat upon 
brazen fhields. 

Thefe precautions, however, did not prevent 
Titan from being informed of what had paired; 
and wilhing to preferve for his children their right 
of fucceffion to the throne, he made war upon 
Saturn, conquered him, and threw both him and 
Cybele into ftrift confinement, where they re- 

E 3 mained, 



54 SATURN, JANUS, THE GOLDEN AGE, 

mained, till Jupiter, arrived at years of maturity, 
made war upon Titan, conquered him, and reftored 
them to liberty. Jupiter having delivered his 
father, took pofferTion of the throne for himfelf, 
and fearing Saturn would employ every method 
to recover his rights, he drove him from heaven. 

The dethroned king took refuge in Italy, with 
Janus king of that country, by whom he was hof- 
pitably received. 

The kingdom of Janus, from this event, took 
the name of Latium, which word comes from 
hat ere y to lie hid. 

Again to refer to hiftory : At Rome were cele- 
brated, in the month of December, the feafls called 
Saturnalia, in commemoration of the time that 
Saturn dwelt in Italy. During their continuance 
no bufinefs was tranfacled in the fenate, nor in the 
public fchools ; perfons mutually fent each other 
prefents, and flaves were waited upon by their 
mafters. This latter cuflom was intended to pre- 
ferve the remembrance of the golden age, in which 
all were equally happy. 

This period, which poets have defcribed in the 
moil: enchanting colours, continued, alas! only 
two reigns; thofe of Saturn and Janus. The 
following ages were ftiled of filver, brafs, and iron. 

So true it is, that a wife government, under a 
good prince, is the greateft bleffing heaven can 
be (tow upon mortals ! 

It is but too neceffary again to repeat this truth 
3 to 



AND THE MONTHS OF THE YEAR. 

to man; and to fupport it with authority more 
refpectable than that of fiction, let us recollect, 
that the Egyptians were never greater or more 
happy, than under their king Sefoftris. 

Athens did not become the mod flourifhing of 
cities, till the time of Pericles, who had no title 
it is true, but yet enjoyed all the authority of a 
king; and in the annals of the world, if we feek 
for the true period of human happinefs, every 
heart and mind, will at once recognife the reigns of 
Antoninus, Marcus Aurelius, Trajan, and Titus. 

In a preceding chapter we have lliown, 
that the defire of happinefs is inherent in man. 
It was even to fupply the place of this irreparable 
lofs, that he imagined the goddefs Hope : let us at 
the fame time remark, that the poets, in defcribing 
the golden age, are more careful to paint the inno- 
cence and primitive virtue which reigned upon 
the earth, than the abundance. 

This will induce us to believe, that they 
owed their defcriptions to the dear remem- 
brance of the moil facred, the mod ancient, 
and confequently the beft preferved of all tra- 
ditions, facred writ. To return to fabulous 
hiftory.* A Saturn in gratitude for the kind recep- 
tion he had experienced from Janus, and for 
having been admitted to a participation in his 
kingdom, endowed him with extraordinary pru- 
dence, to which he, added the knowledge of 

e 4 ' future 



56 MONTHS OF THE YEAR. 

future events, and a perpetual remembrance of 
the paft ; which they wilhed to exprefs, by re- 
prefenting him with a double face: it is from 
thence he is called Bifrons. 

To explain this fable. We learn from hif- 
tory, that Janus was reprefented with two faces, 
becaufe he governed two different people, and 
becaufe he divided his kingdom with Saturn. 
He likewife caufed medals to be ftruck v/ith 
two faces, to mow that his dominions fhould be 
governed by the joint councils of himfelf and 
Saturn. 



THE MONTHS OF THE YEAR. 

Janus prefided over the year. He had 
twelve altars, to fhew that it was compofed of 
twelve months. 

January was fo called from his own name. 
The word February comes from Fehruare, to 
perform purifications : a ceremony which was 
praclifed this month in honour of the dead. 
March takes its name from the god Mars, 
whofe defcendant Romulus pretended to be, and 
under whofe protection this prince had placed 
his warlike people, 

April comes from Aperire^ to open ; becaufe 
in this month the earth opens her boforn, to 

pour 




Birrdsc- 



MONTHS OF THE YEAR, 57 

pour forth her riches. Some etymologifts de- 
rive it from the Greek word Aphrodite, a fur- 
name of Venus, to whom this month was parti- 
cularly confecrated. 

May is derived from Major es, fignifying the 
eldeft ; becaufe it was confecrated to perfons 
advanced in years % as June is from Juniores, 
the younger, becaufe it was confecrated to 
youth. 

July and Auguft, take their names from the 
emperors, Julius Csefar, and Auguftus. 

September, October, November, and Decem- 
ber, are lb called from the rank they occupy 
in the year. 

Before the time of Julius Caefar and Auguf- 
tus, July and Auguft, from the fame reafon, 
were called quintilis, the fifth, and Jextilis, the 
fixth. 

The year, as originally divided by the Romans, 
confifted only of ten months, and began with 
March and April but Numa Pompilius added 
January and February, and made the year begin 
with the former of thofe months. 



CONCLUSION 



6& 



HISTORY OF SATURN AND JANUS, 



CONCLUSION of the HISTORY of SATURN, and 
JANUS, with HISTORICAL COMPARISONS. 

Janus received divine honours, but 
neither Saturn nor he were eyer ranked among 
the deities of the firft clafs. Janus mould be 
reckoned among thofe gods called indigetes. 

He was reprefented with a wand in his hand, 
becaufe he prefided over the public ways. He 
likewife holds a key, becaufe he fir ft invented 
doors. He had a temple e reeled to him by 
Numa Pompilius, which was open in time of 
war, and fhut during peace, on which account 
he was regarded as the god of peace. It is 
worthy of remark, that this temple was only 
fhut thrice by the Romans : under Numa, after 
the fecond Punic war ; and in the reign of 
Auo-uftus, after the battle of Actium. The 
ftatues of Janus frequently exprefs, with the 
right hand, the number three hundred, and with 
the left, fixty, in allufion to the extent of the 
year. 

The invention of crowns, and boats, is attri- 
buted to him; he was likewife the firft who 
ftruck copper money. It feems, that it is to 
Janus, more than Saturn, we mould attribute 

the 



HISTORY OF SATURN AND JANUS. £9 

the mild and falutary laws which procured their 
reigns the appellation of the golden age. 

This prince quitted Perrh^bea a town of 
ThefTaly, about a hundred and forty fix years 
before the taking of Troy. He came by fea 
into Latium, and fome of his medals, upon 
which may be feen the prow of a fhip, are a 
proof of his maritime courfe. When he ar- 
rived in Latium the inhabitants of that barba- 
rous country lived without laws, and almou: 
without religion. 

This prince foftened the ferocity of their 
manners, afifembled them in towns, and gave 
them laws, It is probable that he brought with 
him fome remembrance of the firft ages of the 
world. He made them fenfible of the charms 
of innocence, and the great advantages arifing 
from the practice of juftice. He contrafted 
the picture of happinefs with that of the 
miferies attendant on ignorance and barbarity; 
he, in fome meafure, conflrained them to be 
happy, and when fuccefs had crowned his efforts, 
gratitude raifed altars to his memory. 

Janus, as he is reprefented by the poets in 
their defcription of the golden age, was too 
good, too generous, to refufe an afylum to the 
unfortunate Saturn, when dethroned by Jupiter. 

He did more than receive him with hofpi- 
tality, he wifhed to divide his kingdom with 

him i 



So HISTORY OF SATURN AND JANUS. 

Mm ; but jealous of preferring thofc^ laws, cuf- 
toms, and that mild government, which ^etmfti- 
tuted the happinefs of himfelf and fubjects, he 
did not admit him to a participation of his 
power, till he was convinced that his method of 
governing would be entirely conformable to 
his own. 

Such is the defcription of that time, fo cele- 
brated among the Greeks. 

If we are aftonifhed to fee Saturn, both in 
heaven and on earth, occupy a rank fuperior 
to his benefactor Janus, who was the real reftorer 
of the golden age ; we mufl attribute it to the 
brilliant reputation of his fon Jupiter, who be- 
came the firft and moft powerful of all the 
pagan deities. 

We fhall fee the hiftory of that god fhortly. 

The reputation of Saturn grew fo famous in 
Latiurn, that the mountain, afterwards named the 
Capitoline Hill, was called Saturninus ; and we 
find in Dionyfius HalicarnafTus, and Juftin, that 
all Italy was, from him, called Saturnia. 

The ancient ftatues of Saturn wear chains, 
In remembrance of thofe with which his fon 
loaded him ; they were taken off during his 
feafts, the better to mew that his reign had 
been that of happinefs and liberty. Pie is fre- 
quently reprefented under the form of an old 

man, 



HISTORY OF CYBELE. 



6l 



man, armed with a fcythe, to imply that he pre- 
sided over the times and feafons. 

When under this form, he was called Chronos, 
or Time. 



HISTORY OP CYBELE. 

Though Cybele be of the number of 
the terreftrial deities, we mall give her hiftory 
in this place, as me was the wife of Saturn, and 
mother of Jupiter. 

Cybele was generally regarded as the mother 
of the major part of the gods, which procured 
her the appellation of Magna Mater, the Great 
Mother. 

She had feveral names ; the moft common arc 
Dindymene, Idasa, and Berecynthia ; they are de- 
rived from different mountains, where fne was 
more particularly worlhipped. 

She was likewife called Ops, and Tellus, be- 
caufe me prefided over the earth, as Saturn her 
hulband did over heaven - 3 and Rhea, derived from 
a Greek word, which fignifies to flow, becaufe all 
things proceed from the earth. 

Cybele is generally reprefented fitting, to de- 
note the liability of the earth; £he carries a 
drum or difk, emblematical of the winds confined 

Id 



02 



HISTORY OF CYBELE. 



in the bowels of the earth , and wears upon her 
head a crown, formed with towers : her figure is 
that of a mafculine woman ; and, the better to 
cxprefs the fertility of the earth, fhe appears in 
the laft ftate of pregnancy. 

She has keys in her hands, to mew, that dur- 
ing winter, me preferves in her bofom the feeds 
of every kind of fruit > laftly, her temples were 
round, in imitation of the orbicular form of 
the earth. 

The feafts of Cybele were called Me gale fi a, 
and her prieits Galli, from a river of Phrygia. 

It is pretended, that as foon as they had drank 
the waters of this river they were feized with 
fuch a frenzy, that they gave themfelves wounds 
with fwords, which procured them, according 
to fome authors, the name of Corybantes, 
which fignifies to ftrike. But we mall fee it 
may probably be afcribed to another origin. 

Thefe priefts are fometimes {tiled CureteSj 
from the ifland of Crete, where they brought 
up Jupiter and Daclyli, from a Greek word 
lignifying finger, becaufe they were ten in num- 
ber, like the fingers of the hand. The feafts 
of this goddefs were celebrated to the noife 
of drums, with frightful yells and cries. , 

At Rome fhe had a temple, called Opertum, 
into which men were never admitted and the 
feaft of ablution, in honour of Cybele, was 

celebrated 



HISTORY OF CY3ELE. 6j 

celebrated there with great magnificence. During 
this feaft, the ftatue of the goddefs was drawn in 
proceffion upon a car, with great pomp ; an im- 
menfe retinue accompanied it to where the river 
Almon falls into the Tyber ; when they arrived here, 
the flatue of the goddefs was warned in the waters 
of the river. 

This ceremony which took place on the 25th 
of March, was inftituted in commemoration of 
the epoch, when the worfhip of Cybele was brought 
from Phrygia to Rome. 

The Romans, having learned from the verfes of 
the Sybils, (of whom we mall fpeak in the courie 
of this work) that they were to honour Cybele, 
as being the mother of the gods, fent a Iplendid 
embafly into Phrygia, to demand the ftatue of 
the goddefs, which was of black {lone ; the requed 
was granted, and it was tranfported by fea, but as 
foon as it arrived at the mouth of the Tyber, the 
vefTel flopped, and every effort to make it advance 
was in vain. 

The oracle, or the book of the Sybils, was again 
confulted, and returned for anfwer, that a virgin 
alone could have the power of bringing it into 
port. The defire of pleafing is always dangerous 
when imprudently indulged without reflraintj it 
had till then had too much fway over the young 
and beautiful Claudia j doubts injurious to her 
honour began to arife, and in vain did me fhed 

tears 



64 HISTORY OF CYBELEd 

tears of forrow, and remorfe, at feeing her reputa- 
tion blafted. 

Being informed of the anfwer of the oracle, 
Ihe earneftly folicited to undergo this trials it was 
granted, and me appeared in the midft of the 
Roman people, decked in all her beauty. Her 
demeanour, at once full of modefty and dignity, 
fliowed her to be fuperior to all fear : fcorning 
fufpicions which me knew to be unfounded, and 
confcious of her own innocence, with an audible 
voice, fhe addreiTed a prayer to the goddefs, and 
fattening her girdle to the vefTel, it in an inttant 
advanced without the leatt oppofition. 

Hiftory informs us that Cybele was daughter 
to a king of Phrygia ; fhe left her own country 
to go to Latium, where fhe married Saturn. She 
was the firft who fortified the walls of cities with 
towers, which is the reafon of her being repre- 
fented with a crown of towers upon her head. 
Cybele, before fhe was deftined for the wife of 
Saturn, had feen Atys, a young Phrygian, whofe 
love fne fought, but he preferred the nymph San- 
garis, daughter of Sangar, king of Phrygia. 
This fable tells us, that the goddefs revenged her- 
felf upon Atys, in the perfon of Sangaris - } her 
life was attached to that of a tree, which being cut 
down, the nymph perittied. 

Atys in defpair became furious his frenzy led 
him into the mountains of Phrygia, where he (tabbed 

him felf 



HISTORY OF CYBELE. 65 

himfelf with a knife ; he was at the point of death, 
when Cybele, having companion upon a mortal 
whom me had fo tenderly loved, changed him 
into a pine, which tree was confecrated to her 
ever after. 

This fable of Atys and Sangaris, is founded 
upon the circumftance of Midas king of Peflinus 
having promifed his daughter in marriage to the 
young Atys; Cybele learning fhe had a rival, 
aflembied her troops, haftened to Peftlnus, and 
entered the city by cutting down the gates ; Atys 
endeavoured in vain to refift this attack ; he was 
dangeroufly wounded, and Sangaris died of grief 
and defpair. ' \ - 

All that we can learn from hiltory, refpecting 
the birth and name of Cybele, is, that me was 
expofed the moment fhe was born, without align- 
ing any caufe, or informing us how fhe came to 
be known by her father, the king of Phrygia. She 
was called Cybele, from the name of the mountain 
upon which fhe was found expofed. 

Some etymologifts think this name derived 
from an Hebrew word, which fignifies to bring 
forth with for row, and that the tradition of Eve's 
being condemned to bring forth in forrow is con- 
cealed under this fable. 

The worfhip of Cybele, and of the earth, is 
extremely ancient ; many authors aflert, that Cad- 
mus firft brought it into Europe. 

F They 



66 THE VESTALS, AND VESTA. 

They fay that Dardanus, (who was eontempo* 
rary with Cadmus) after the death of his brother 
Jafon, came with Cybeie -his filler in law, and 
Corybas his nephew into Phrygia, where they 
introduced the myfterious rites of the earth and 
the mother of the gods; that Cybeie gave her 
name to this goddefs, and that her priefts were 
called Corybantes, from Corybas. Such appears 
to be the origin of the worfhip of the earth, 
which, with other ceremonies of the Egyptians, 
fpread firft into Syria and Phoenicia, and after- 
wards into Phrygia, which is a part of Afia Minor, 
from whence it was imported into Greece and 
Italy. The name of Vefta Prifca, or Vefta Tel- 
lus, is frequently given to Cybeie,- but me mud: 
not be confounded with the fecond Vefta, daughter 
of Saturn, who was the goddefs of fire, and pre- 
Tided over virginity. We mail now give her 
hiftory. 



OF THE VESTALS, AND OF VESTA, GOD- 
DESS OF FIRE AND VIRGINITY. 

Numa Pompilius railed an altar to Vefta, 
daughter of Saturn, and inftituted thofe celebrated 
priefteftH who bore the name of Veftals. At firft: 
they were only four in number, but were after- 
wards increafed to feven. 

The 



THE VESTALS, AND VESTA, 6j 

The Roman virgins deftined for the ftrvice of 
Vefta, were chofen between the age of fix and ten 
years. Their birth muft be without fpot, and their 
bodies without blemilh. 

The time of their confecratiori to Yefta lafted 
thirty years, during which they were vowed to 
virginity, and it was not till after this term that 
they were free from their priefthood, and at liberty 
to marry. 

During the firft ten years they were inftrucled 
in the duties of their office, practifed it during 
the fecond ten, and in the ten laft years inftrucled 
the novices. 

The principal employment of the veftals con« 
filled in conftantly maintaining the facred fire 
which burnt in honour of Vefra. 

Every year during the kalends of March, this 
fire was renewed by the rays of the fun. 

Of fo much importance was the prefervation of 
the facred fire confidered, that when it happened # 
to expire, all public games were interdicted till 
the crime fhould be expiated. This event was 
the fubject of general mourning 5 it was con- 
fidered as the moil melancholy prefage. Every 
eye attentively fought the canfe of this public cala- 
mity, fufpicions of every fort were entertained, and 
fometimes they fell upon the veftals. It wa3 
difficult to elude refearches, and if one of them 

f 2 had 



68 



THE VESTALS, AND VESTA. 



had violated her vows, nothing could fave her 
from death j fhe was buried alive. 

It was on an occafion of this kind, that Emilia 
one of the vefrals being fufpected, threw her 
veil upon the facred allies, which immediately 
rekindled. 

iEneas is fuppofed to be the original infcitutor 
of the ve Peals, and Numa Pompilius only the 
reviver of them. The common opinion was, that 
befides the facred fire, the temple of Veda con- 
tained the palladium, the houfehold gods, and 
other images, which the pious iEneas had faveel 
from the ruins of Troy and brought with him 
into Italy. 

Thefe precious depofits were looked upon as 
neceffary to the prefervation of Rome, and it was 
to fave them that Cecilius Metellus precipitated 
himfelf into the flames, when the temple of Veila 
was on fire, whilft the timid prieileffes fled in every 
direction. 

The Romans rewarded this generous action, by 
railing a ilatue to him, in the capitol, bearing. an 
honourable infeription. 

It is certain that the worfliip of Veila and of 
fire was brought from Phrygia by iEneas, and the 
Trojans that accompanied him, but the Phrygians 
. themfelves originally received it from the Earl. 
The Chaldeans held fire in great veneration, and 
regarded it as a deity. 

JUPITER. 



JUPITER. Cg 



JUPITER. 

"When we wifh thoroughly to invefti- 
gate the idea which the Pagans entertained of this 
firft of gods, we are terrified at the attempt. 
The generality of their philofophers fuppofed Jupi- 
ter to be the pureft air, the aether, and Juno, his 
v/ife, the groffer air which furrounds our globe. 

Thofe who looked upon him as an animated 
god, as one of thofe men whofe great exploits 
had procured him divine honours, did not hefitate 
to contradict themfelves in the moft palpable man- 
ner, by attributing to him the bafeft actions and 
the blackeft crimes. 

Sometimes they defcribe him as abfolute fove- 
reign of gods and men, as the principle of all 
juftice; and not unfrequently as the weakeft and 
moft criminal of men. What idea of the divinity 
had then thefe Greeks and Romans, of whofe 
boafted delicacy of fentiment we hear fo much ? 

What renders the hiftory of Jupiter ftill more 
obfcure, is, that there were feveral of the name, 
and all their different actions were attributed 
to him, who was king of Crete, as being the moft 
generally known. 

The ancients are by no means agreed concern- 
ing the number of Jupiters. Diodorus Siculus 

f 3 reckons 



JUPITER. 

reckons two ; the firft a prince of the family of 
Atlas; the fecond, confiderably more famous, was 
his nephew and king of Crete, who extended the 
limits of his empire to the extremities of Europe 
and Africa. 

Cicero counts three; the firft born in Arcadia, 
was the fon of iEther, and father of Proferpine 
and Bacchus; the fecond was fon of Ccelus, and 
father of Minerva, who, according to Cicero, was 
the. firft that engaged in war. The third was fon 
of Saturn ; born in the ifland of Crete, where 
his tomb was formerly to be feen. The name of 
Jupiter is confiderably more ancient than Cicero 
and Diodorus appear to think. The firft of all is 
the Jupiter Ammon of the Lybians. There is 
reafon to believe this Ammon was Ham himfelf> 
whom his fon Myfraim, or Meftraim, raifed to 
the rank of a divinity. It is well known, that this 
patriarch and his family went to fettle in Egypt, 
which in feripture is called the land of Mefraim, 
or Ammon, or Noammon. 

Jupiter Serapis, worshipped in the fame country, 
is alfo very ancient. 

Jupiter Belus, mentioned by Herodotus, was 
the Jupiter of the AiTyrians. According to the 
fame author Heaven was the Jupiter of the Per- 
ilans. The Greeks, on the contrary, looked 
upon Ccelus, or Uranus, as the grand-father of 
Jupiter. 

Arnon^; 



JUPITER. 71 

Among the number of the moll: ancient J inci- 
ters, fhould be ranked that of Thebes in Egypt: 
fmce, according to the laft-mentioned author, it 
was a prieftefs of this god who brought the firft 
oracle into Greece. 

The Scythians had their Jupiter. Each nation 
gave him a particular name. 
1 The Ethiopians called him Affabinus. The 
Gauls Taranus. The inhabitants of the Lower 
Nile Apis. The Arabians Chronos. The ArTy- 
rians Belus, or Zeus. 

We mall not give a complete lift of all thefe 
names, nor the hiftory of thofe who bore them ; 
fince., according to Varro, their number amounted 
to three hundred. In the firft ages of the world, 
the majority of kings took this name; which 
cuftom did not ceafe till after the taking 
of Troy. 

This is the reafon why fo many different coun- 
tries boafted the honour of having given birth to 
Jupiter, and almoft all brought fome proof in fup- 
port of their affertion. We ftiall diftinguifh thofe 
who were the mod famous. 

* He who carried off Europa, is Jupiter AfteriHS, 
father of Minos, king of Crete, and was contem- 
porary with Cadmus, about 1400 years before the 
Chriftian sera. 
He who efpoufed the daughter of Atlas, lived 

f 4 about 



72 JUPITER. 

about a hundred and forty years before the capture 
of Troy. 

He who entered into the tower of Danae was 
Jupiter Prastus, uncle to that princefs. 

He who was the father of Hercules, lived 
about 70 years before the taking of Troy, — 
Laftly, 

He who had by Leda the two Diofcures, Caftor 
and Pollux, lived much about the fame epoch. 

It would be ufelefs to give the hiftory of all 
that have borne this name. It is probable that the 
events of all their different lives have been united 
to furnifh materials for the hiftory of one fingk 
Jupiter. 

We mall content ourfelves, therefore, with 
explaining what Mythology has thought proper to 
preferve, and leave it to the refearches of the 
learned to determine the difference between thefe 
feveral gods. 

The hiftory of Jupiter being found continually 
mixed with that of the other gods we think it 
indifpenfably neceffary to give it with its principal 
particulars, we fhall in confequence relate what 
we find recorded of him in fiction, and fhall after- 
wards cite what is tranfmitted to us by tradition 
and hiftory. We fhall recount the names by which 
he was moil commonly diftinguifhed, the manner 
in which he was reprefented, and the worfhip which 
was paid to him. 

By 



FABULOUS HISTORY OF JUPITER. 73 

By treating his hiftory thus largely we fnall 
confiderably facilitate that of the other gods, and 
enable the reader to form a more diftinct idea of 
Mythology in general. 



FABULOUS HISTORY OF JUPITER. 

The ftory of Saturn and Cybefe has 
already made us acquainted with the birth of this 
god. Cybele after having prefented the ftone, 
called Abdir, to Saturn, which he immediately 
devoured, confided the care of Jupiter's infancy 
to the Curetes, and it was to prevent his cries 
from being heard that they danced ilriking their 
fhields with their lances. 

Saturn, before the birth of Jupiter, had already 
devoured Veila his eldeft daughter, Ceres, Juno, 
Pluto, and Neptune. 

Rhea rinding herfelf pregnant with Jupiter, 
faved him in the manner we have juft related ; and 
had him afterwards fecretly tranfported into the 
ifle of Crete, where he was concealed in a cave 
called Dicle ; and two nymphs of the country, 
Adrafta and Ida, otherwife called Meliffe, took 
charge of his infancy, and the milk of the goat 
Amalthea nourifhed him. 

As 



;4 FABULOUS HISTORY OF JUPITEH, 

As foon as Jupiter arrived at years of maturity 
he aflbciated with Metis, a name which fignifies 
Providence, that is to fay, from that time he dis- 
played great prudence. Metis advifed him to 
give his father a drink, which made him caft up 
thz ftone Abdir, and immediately a!! the children 
which he had devoured were reftored to life. 
It is here necefary to remind the reader of the 
explanation we gave in the hiftory of Saturn, of 
the Phoenician word Balah, which fignifies either 
to confine, or to devour. We {hall then perceive 
that Jupiter, by his prudence, found means to 
deliver his brothers and fifters from prifon, who 
combined to make war upon their father Saturn, 
and the Titans his relations. 

After this war, which lafted ten years, Terra 
foretold to Jupiter, that he mould gain a complete 
victory over his enemies, provided he could fet 
at liberty thofe Titans, whom his father held 
confined in Tartarus, and could engage them to 
take part in his caufe. 

He undertook this dangerous adventure, killed 
Campe who guarded the prifon, and delivered 
his relations. 

. It was then that the Cyclops— of whom we 
lhall fpeak hereafter — furnifhed Jupiter with 
thunder, which has ever fince been his common 
fymbol; at the fame time they gave Pluto a hel- 
met, and Neptune a trident, * 

With 



DIVISION OF THE WORLD. 75 

With thefe arms they vanquished Saturn, whom 
Jupiter treated as Saturn had treated his father 
Uranus. He precipitated him into the lowed 
gulph of Tartarus, with the Titans, where they 
were guarded by Hecatonchires, giants, who had 
an hundred hands. It was after this victory that 
the three brothers, feeing themfelves matters of 
the univerfe, divided it amongft them. 

Jupiter had Heaven for his part; Neptune the 
Sea; and Pluto the Infernal Regions. 



EXPLANATION OF THE DIVISION OF THE 
WORLD. 

Before we proceed any further in the 
fabulous hiftory of Jupiter, we fhall give the man- 
ner in which the learned explain this celebrated 
divifion of the world. 

They almoft all agree in regarding it as a con- 
fufed tradition of the beginning of the world, 
nearly the fame as related in the book of Genefis. 
Noah, fay they, divided the earth amongft his three 
children, Shem, Ham, and Japhet. 

Africa became the portion of Cham ; and there 
is great probability that it was he, who was after- 
wards known under the name of Jupiter ; for in 
Egypt there was a city confecrated to his honour, 

Befides 



~& FABULOUS HISTORY OF JUPITER. 

Be fides j the names of Cham or Ham bear great 
affinity to that of Amnion, fo celebrated in Africa. 
Japhet, fecond fon of Noah, had for his mare 
all the maritime parts of Afia, with the Archi- 
pelago and Europe, which caufed him afterwards 
to be accounted god of the fea. Shem, third fon 
of Noah, had the reft of AHa ; where the worlhip 
of fire became almofl general, which occafioning 
conflagrations that confumed feveral cities, pro- 
cured him the appellation of god of the infernal 
regions. We ihali again return to this divifion^ 
when we have related what hiftory has preferved 
concerning Jupiter. 



CONTINUATION OF THE FABULOUS HIS. 
TORY OF JUPITER. 

T he Titans and giants having refolved 
to revenge themfelves upon Jupiter, undertook to 
befiege him, even in heaven, that is, upon Mount 
Glyrnpus, where he generally refided. 

For this purpofe they piled the mountains OfTa 
and Pelion upon each other. 

Jupiter, terrified at the fight of fuch formidable 
enemies, called ail the gods and goddeffes to his 
affiftance. The firft who came was Styx, daugh- 
ter of Oceanus and Thetis, accompanied by her 
i children, 



FABULOUS HISTORY OF JUPITER* 77 

children, Victory, Power, Emulation, and Strength. 
Jupiter was fo pleafed with her diligence that he 
decreed, that every oath made in the name of the 
- goddefs Styx — who was afterwards confounded 
with one of the rivers of hell — mould be held 
facred even by himfelf. The confequence of vio- 
lating this oath, was the forfeiture of their divine 
privileges for a century. 

The giants, fons of Ccelum and Terra, were 
of a monftrous fize, and proportionate ftrength, 
Their afpecl: was fierce and terrible, and their 
lower parts refembled that of a ferpent. Their 
general refidence was in the Phlegrean plains. 
In the aflauit which they made upon heaven, they 
threw enormous rocks and flaming trees. 

The mofl formidable of them were Porphyrion 
and Alcyoneus : the latter was to be immortal as 
long as he fnould remain in the place of his nativity. 

What moft terrified Jupiter was a prediction, 
that the giants could neither be vanquimed nor 
llain, unlefs fome mortal came to the afliflance 
of the gods. 

Jupiter in confequence forbade Aurora, the Sun, 
and Moon, to appear and difcover his defigns ; 
he prevented the Earth, who wilhed to fuccour 
her children $ and by the advice of Pallas invited 
Hercules, to come and affift him. 

This hero, with his arrows, feveral times over* 
threw the terrible Alcyoneus, but he receiving 

frelh. 



7$ FABULOUS HISTORY OF JUPXTO... 

frefh vigour every time he touched the eartfo 
Pallas feized him by the middle of the body, and 
tranfported him beyond the moon, where he ex j 
pired. 

In the mean time, Porphyrion attacked at once 
Hercules, and Juno but, iurprifed at the beauty 
of the goddefs, he fufpended his ftroke a moment 
to gaze at her, and was immediately (truck dead 
by the thunder of Jupiter, and the arrows of 
Hercules. 

Epialtes, and Otus his brother, fons of Akcus 
and Iphimedia^ who were furnamed the Aloides, 
attacked the god of war ; the former was difabled 
from the fight, by having his eyes pierced with 
the arrows of Apollo and Hercules* Eurytus 
daring Hercules to the combat, was killed by 
that hero with an oaken club; whilft Vulcan, 
with a red hot iron bar, brought Clytius to the 
ground. Enceladus feeing the gods victorious, 
was going to fly, but Minerva flopped his courfe, 
by overwhelming him with the ifland of Sicily i 
Polybotes, purfued by Neptune, fled acrofs the 
fea, and had juft reached the ifland of Cos, when 
that god tearing up part of it, threw it upon the 
body of the giant, which formed a new ifland of 
the name of Nyfyros. 

Minerva, on her part, having vanquished the 
giant Pallas, flayed him, and wore his fkin as her 
armour. Mercury, who had on the helmet of 
3 Pluto, 



FABULOUS HISTORY OF JUPITER* yg 

Pluto, killed the giant Hippolytus; Diana, Gra- 
tion ; and the Fates flew Agrius and Thaon. The 
Earth enraged at this victory, redoubled her efforts, 
and poured from her bofom the dreadful Typhon, 
who alone was more formidable to the gods than 
all the other giants collectively. His head reached 
heaven; he was half man, and half ferpent; the 
light of this monfler fo terrified the gods, who 
were come to the affiftance of Jupiter, that they 
fled from heaven, and took refuge in Egypt. 

This retreat having considerably weakened the 
party of Jupiter, gave occafion to the ftory thac 
Typhon had cut oft the hands of that god with 
his own weapon, a fcythe of adamant. This ter- 
rible enemy allowing the gods no refpite, purfued 
them into Egypt, where they metamorphofed 
themfelves into different animals; Apollo into a 
crow, Bacchus into a goat, Diana into a cat, Juno 
into a cow, Venus into a fjih, and Mercury 'into 
a fwan; which means, that they embarked on 
board veffels, carrying thefe different figures at 
their prows. 

Typhon having deprived Jupiter of his hands 
and legs, with the diamond fcythe, carried him 
into Sicily, and confined him in a cave, under the 
guard of a moniler, half woman and half ferpent. 

Mercury and Pan, having eluded the vigilance 
of his keeper, reftored Jupiter his hands and feet, 
that is, fet him at liberty; and this god, having 

mounted 



8o FABULOUS HISTORY OF JUPITER. 

mounted a chariot drawn by flying horfes, purfued 
Typhon with his thunder, to the farther!: part of 
Arabia 5 from thence he drove him into Thrace, 
where the giant having torn up a mountain, whirled 
it at Jupiter, who drove it back upon him with 
a thunder bolt; at laft Typhon having fled into 
Sicily, was there whelmed by Jupiter under 
mount Etna. Earthquakes, fays the fable, are 
the efforts of Typhon to difengage himfelf from 
the mountain which oppreffes him. 

After the defeat of the Titans, and giants, 
Jupiter devoted the whole of his attention to the 
government of the univerfe, and the happinefs of 
mankind. 

Hefiod fays, that Jupiter was married feven 
times. His wives were Metis, Themis, Eury- 
nome, Ceres, Mnemofine, Latona, and Juno, who 
appears to have been the lafl, and molt celebrated. 

By thefe he had a great number of children; 
he had likewife feveral by mortals, with whom he 
frequently formed attachments. Though all thofe 
who are mentioned in fabulous hiftory do not 
belong to the fame Jupiter, yet we mall give the 
account of them as we find it there, as they 
fo repeatedly occur among the demi-gods and 
heroes. 

Metamorphofed into a fwan, he had by Leda, 
Caftor and Pollux. By Europa, daughter of 
Agenor, he had Minos, and Radamanthus. By 

Califto, 



FABULOUS HISTORY OF JUPITER. 



81 



Califto, Areas. By Niobe, Pelafgus. By Sar- 
dane, Sarpedon and Argus. By Alcmena, the 
wife of Amphitrion, Hercules. By Antiope, Am- 
phion and Zetes. By Danae, Perfeus. By 
Iodame, Deucalion. By Came, the daughter of 
Eubulus, Britomarte. By the nymph Schytinide, 
Megara. By Protogenia, iEthiiius, father of 
Indymion, and Memphis, who afterwards efpoufed 
Lydia. By Toredea, Arcefilaus. By Ora, Colax. 
By Cyrnos, Cyrneus. By Electra, Dardanus. 
By Thalia, the gods Palices. By Garamantis, 
Iarbas, Philea, and Pilumnus. By Ceres, Pro- 
ferpine. By Mnemofyne, (for whom he meta- 
morphofed himfelf into a fhepherd) the Nine Muies. 
By Juno, Mars. By Maia, daughter of Atlas, 
Mercury. By Latona, Apollo, and Diana. By 
Dione, Venus. By Metis, or Providence, Mi- 
nerva, goddefs of wifdom. By Semele, daughter 
of Cadmus, Bacchus. 

We mall not be furprifed at this long lift of 
children, when we reflect, that many different 
characters have borne the fame name. 

The Cretan Jupiter, being the moil celebrated 
of all, has principally engaged the attention of the 
poets, and ancient authors. 

In his hiftory they have united whatever was 
remarkable in that of all others of the name. 



G 



HISTORY 



82 



HISTORY OF JUPITE& 



/ 



HISTORY OF JUPITER AND THE TITAN 

PRINCES. 

jFke following hiftory is principally taken 
from Diodorus^ who extracted it himfelf from 
Evhemerus. Father Pezron has proved its au- 
thenticity in the clearer! manner, by collecting in 
fupport of it all the fcattered paflages which we 
meet with in ancient authors. 
' The Scythians, defendants of Magog, the 
fecond fon of Japhet, eftablifhed thernfelves firft" 
in the northern provinces of Upper Afia. Dividing 
afterwards into different branches, fome went to 
fettle in Margiana, Bactria, and the moft eaftern 
parts of Sogdiana, whilfl others directed their 
courfe towards Iberia, and Albania, between the 
Cafpian and Euxine feas. 

Becoming too numerous for the country which 
they inhabited, they went in fearch of new abodes. 
Armenia, according to Strabo, was the firft place 
they took poiTefiion of they afterwards advanced 
into Cappadocia, and directing their courfe always 
towards the weft, they fixed their refidence in the 
countries watered by the Thermodon and Iris, 
where they built the city Acmonia, fo called from 
Acmon fon of Phanes their leader. 

The 



AND THE TITAN PRINCES. 83 

The defire of conqueflled Acmon into Phrygia, 
where he built another city, likewife called Acmo- 
nia; and after making himfelf matter of Phoenicia 
and Syria, died, in confequence of having over 
fatigued himfelf in the chace. 

He was ranked among the gods, by the name 
of the Moil High. 

Uranus, which fignifles in Greek, heaven, the 
fon and fucceffor of Acmon, efpoufed Titcea, or 
the earth, and had by her feveral children, who 
from their mother were called Titans, a name 
fo celebrated in ancient hiftory, and which caufed 
them to be regarded as the offspring of the earth. 

Thefe princes exceeding in ftrength and ftature 
the common race of men, were called giants; 
and from thence the Titans and giants have fre- 
quently been confounded together, though it is 
neceffary to make a clear diftinftion between 
them. 

Uranus was fo called by the ancients, only 
becaufe he applied himfelf clofely to the fbudy of 
aftronomy. His defcendants, dextrous in availing 
themfelves of whatever might exalt their illuftrious 
family, feized the opportunity offered by the names 
Uranus and Titcea, to report that they were the 
children of heaven and earth* 

Uranus fo far furpaffed his father Acmon, and 
his predeceiTors, that he feems almoft to have 

g 2 effaced 



84 HISTORY OF JUPITER 

effaced from the memory of pofterity, the names 
of thofe from whom he was defcended. This 
prince paffed the Bofphorus, carried his arms into 
Thrace, and conquered feveral iflands, among 
others that of Crete, the government of which he 
gave to one of his brothers whofe male children 
were called Curetes. Uranus afterwards invaded 
the other provinces of Europe ; penetrated even 
into Spain, and palTing the ftraits which feparate 
that country from Africa, he over-ran the coafts 
of tharpart of the world ; from whence returning, 
he directed his courfe towards the north of Eu- 
rope, and reduced the whole country to fubjection. 

Uranus had feveral children, Titan, Oceanus, 
Hyperion, Japetus, Chronos, or Saturn; when 
arrived at manhood, they confpired againfl their 
father, but were all overcome and thrown into 
prifon, except Oceanus, who had not engaged in 
the plot. 

Saturn being releafed by his mother Titcea, libe- 
rated his brothers, who having in their turn feized 
their father Uranus, out of gratitude conferred the 
kingdom upon their deliverer Saturn. Not long 
after however fymptoms of jealoufy and difcontent 
appeared among fome of them, but thefe were 
quickly fuppreffed ; Saturn now met with no more 
refinance, and Uranus reduced to the condition of 
a private individual, died of grief. 

i Saturn 



AND THE TITAN PRINCES, . 85 

Saturn feeing himfelf mafter of a vaft empire, 
efpoufed his fifter Rhea, and with the title of king, 
affumed the crown and diadem. 

Uranus, when dying, and Titcea enraged at the 
conduct of their fon Saturn, told him that his own 
children would one day treat him in the fame 
manner that he had treated his father. Terrified 
at a menace and a reproach which he was con- 
fcious of having fo juftly defer ved, Saturn regarded 
this as a prediction, and to avoid its effects, caufed 
all his children to be confined, without any diftinc- 
tion of fex. 

Rhea, afflicted beyond meafure at this cruelty, 
had the addrefs to fave Jupiter, and fent him from 
Arcadia, where he then was, into Crete, where his 
uncles, the Curetes, brought him up in the receifes 
of mount Ida. 

Such is the origin of the fable which reprefents 
Saturn devouring his children, and that of the flone 
which was prefented to him for Jupiter a fable 
explained by the ambiguity of the Phoenician word 
Balah. In the mean time, the Titans who beheld 
the grandeur of Saturn with a jealous eye, revolted 
from him, and feizing his perfon, committed him 
to clofe confinement. 

Jupiter, at that time very young, but of intrepid 
courage, quitted the ifle of Crete, defeated the 
Titans, delivered his father, re -eftabli fried him 
on his throne, and returned home victorious. 

c 3 -Saturn 



86 HISTORY OF JUPITER. 

Saturn after this reigned feveral years, but age 9 
and the remembrance of his own conduct towards 
his father Uranus, rendering him fufpicious, he 
confulted the oracle, which returned for anfwer, 
that he had every thing to fear from the younger!; 
of his children. 

From that time lie endeavoured by every me- 
thod to get rid of Jupiter : he laid fnares for him 
which the latter conflantly efcaped. At laft, fee- 
ing himfelf every day expofed to new dangers, 
the young prince thought ferioufly of defending 
himfelf. Soon after this, Saturn came into Crete, 
of which he was fovereign, in purfuit of his Ton ; 
but thofe whom he had appointed to govern 
it, taking part with Jupiter, he was obliged to 
retire with precipitation into that part of Greece 
called afterwards Peloponnefus. 

Jupiter followed him, and Saturn being de- 
feated was obliged to fly for refuge into Italy, 
where he was favourably received by Janus. 

The Titans, at that time fcattered over all 
Greece, alarmed at the power of the new con^ 
queror, and being folicited by Saturn, aflembled 
troops and offered him battle ; but being de- 
feated, they fled with Saturn into the farthefl parts 
of Spain. 

Jupiter, having firft delivered his brothers and 
fillers, purfued the Titans to their place of retreat, 
and gave them a fecond defeat, in the vicinity 

of 



AND THE TITAN PRINCES. 87 

of TartefTus, which terminated this war, after it 
had lafted ten years. 

Saturn, feeing himfelf no longer fecure, in a 
country of which his fon was matter, patted 
into Sicily, where he experienced the fate pre- 
dicted by his expiring father, and died of grief. 

It was from this period that the reign of 
Jupiter began. His real name was Jou, that is 
young, to mow that he was the laft of Saturn's 
children, and, at the fame time, that he gained 
great reputation during his youth. In the courlc 
of time, Pater, or Father, was added to it, from 
whence was formed Joupater, and Jupiter. 

Becoming matter of a mighty empire, he ef- 
poufed his fitter, called by the Romans Juno, and 
by the Greeks Hera, or Mittrefs. The name of 
Jovis was likewife given to Jupiter, and the word 
Father was added, to exprefs that he was fove- 
reign of the gods. 

Finding it impottible to govern alone fuch 
extenfive dominions, he appointed governors to 
am* ft him. 

Diodorus Siculus informs us, that Atlas go- 
verned the frontiers of Africa, and became fo 
famous there, that he gave name to the chain of 
mountains extending to the fea : this name they 
ttill retain. And for the fame reafon, that part of 
the fea, which waflies thefe mountains, was called 
the Atlantic Ocean. We likewife learn, from 

G 4 ancient 



SB HISTORY OF JUPITER 

ancient authors, that Pluto was governor of the 
weftern parts of the empire of the Titans, of the 
Gauls, and of Spain, which we mall fpeak of in 
the hiftory of that god. 

After the death of Pluto, the government 
was given to Mercury, who acquired great repu- 
tation, and became the principal divinity of 
the Celts, 

The hiftory of the other governors we are ig- 
norant of. It is only known that Jupiter referved 
for himfelf the Eaft, Greece, the Grecian Ifles, 
and that part of Afia from whence his anceftors 
proceeded. 

It is eafily perceived, without doubt, that thefe 
traditions, and hiftorical fragments, make no 
mention of the partition of the world among the 
three brothers : on the contrary, it appears that 
Jupiter remained fole mafcer of the empire, and 
only beftowed governments upon his brothers. 
But we muft obferve, that the Greeks having no 
authentic hiftory to direct, them, their poets were 
able to give fccpe to their imaginations : they 
confulted their moil ancient traditions, and it 
was probably the remembrance of the divifion of 
the world, among the three fons of Noah, by 
which they were guided, in affigning the empire 
bf each god. We muft alfo add, that the divi- 
fion of the world between Jupiter, Neptune, and 
Pluto, was not univerfally admitted among the 

ancients, 



AND THE TITAN PRINCES, 89 

ancients. England poiTefTes a valuable monument 
which proves this difference of opinion, and 
throws great light upon this difputed point. 

At London, in the collection of Mr. Townly— 
which is one of the richeft, and moil beautiful in 
the world — is an antique ftatueof Jupiter, which re- 
prefents this god holding thunder, the fymboi of the 
fovereign of Heaven, in his right hand ; in his left 
a trident, fymboi of the god of the Sea 5 and by 
his fide is a Cerberus, fymboi of the god of Hell, 

This precious remnant of antiquity, which is 
in good prefervation, agrees perfectly with the 
hiftorical account juft mentioned. The ancients 
who have written the hiflory of Crete, fpeak 
highly in praife of the courage, prudence, juftice, 
and civil and military virtues of Jupiter. The 
whole of their works are no longer extant ; but 
the Greeks have transmitted to us fome frag- 
ments of them. They fay he was an excellent 
legiflator, that his laws were juft, and, by his 
care, duly enforced. He exterminated the rob- 
bers who infefted TherTaly and wiining to have 
a place of defence there, he built it upon Mount 
Olympus, which occafioned the poets to fay, that 
he inhabited heaven. 

The place of our nativity, the feat of our 
infant days, are always particularly dear to us. 

Whence 



gO HISTORY OF JUPITER, &C. 

Whence proceeds this charm ? Is, it not- becaufe 
they recal to our minds the care that was be- 
flowed upon us, at a time when we were fo 
much in need of it ? And does it not feem as 
though Providence, by this pleafmg partiality, 
has wifhed to imprefs us with a ftrong fenfe of 
that firft of all obligations, gratitude ? The 
cares of the empire of the world did not pre- 
sent Jupiter from frequently vifiting the ifland of 
Crete : there he enjoyed repofe ; happy, had he 
not fullied the glory of his illuftrious actions by 
an immoderate propenfity to pleafure. It is to 
this defect we mufc attribute that multitude of 
criminal, and frequently ridiculous, intrigues, 
which have been handed down to us, under the 
difguife of his different metamorphofes. They 
fo far alienated the affections of Juno his wife, 
that me engaged in a confpiracy again ft him ; 
which was defeated by Jupiter as foon as difco- 
vered. This was the laft of his exploits. Worn 
out with age, he retired to end his days in his 
favourite ifle of Crete, where his tomb was to be 
feen near Gnoffus, one of the principal cities of 
the ifland, with this infcription : 

<i Here lies Zan, who was called Jupiter." 
He lived to the age of 120 years ; 62 of which 
he is fuopofed to have reigned after the defeat of 
the Titans, and the death of Saturn. 

His 



EXPLANATION OF FICTIONS, &C. 91 

His funeral was performed by the Curetes his 
relations. 

The empire of Jupiter had the fate common 
to great ftates, whofe fplendour feldom furvives 
the fovereign by whom they were erected. After 
his death it was divided into feveral petty king- 
doms, governed by a fuccefiion of princes, the 
major part of whom are unknown ; and what 
remains of their hiftory is unworthy of relation. 

The ifle of Crete was that portion of this 
empire which fubfifted longer! ; it was governed 
by Cres, fon of Jupiter, after the death of his 
father. 



An Explanation of foiiie of the Fictions contained 
in the History and Fable of Jupiter. 

e fhall content ourfelves with explain- 
ing the principal circumfrances, as they will 
ferve to elucidate more clearly the hiftory of 
Jupiter. 

To comprehend the ftory which fays, that Jupi- 
ter precipitated his father into the infernal regions, 
we mu ft obferve, that the Greeks regarded the 
countries fituated towards the earl as the moft 
elevated part of the world on the contrary, thofe 

towards 




92 EXPLANATION OF FICTIONS 

towards the weft were fuppofed to be the loweft. 
This was fufficient to furnifh matter for the fertile 
imagination of the Greeks. To the eaftern coun- 
tries they gave the name of heaven, and thofe of 
the weft, or the loweft, they called hell. 

It was in confequence of this idea (as we mall 
fee in the hiftory of Pluto) that they placed the 
infernal regions in Spain, Italy, Epirus, or in the 
countries weft of Greece. 

The Titans having been forced to take refuge in 
Italy and Spain, the poets pretended that they were 
driven into the infernal regions. In the fame man- 
ner, they gave the name of Tartarus to the Tar- 
teflus, a river of Spain - } and the Titans having 
been vanquiihed near this river, and partly drowned 
in its waters, they were faid to have been plunged 
into Tartarus fome of them again having been 
recalled from Italy and Spain, they were feigned 
to have been delivered from their infernal manfion. 

They entered into a frefh confpiracy with Saturn, 
but were conquered by Jupiter, who having pur- 
fued them to the fartheft extremity of Spain, placed 
faithful valiant troops to guard the paffages j which 
gave rife to the fiction of the hecatonchires, or 
giants with an hundred arms. 

In the fame manner we muft explain the fable 
of the god Neptune, who imprifoned the Titans in 
the fea. This brother of Jupiter commanded his 
fieets, and making himfelf m after of the ports of 

Spain, 



IN THE HISTORY OF JUPITER. 93 

Spain, fo completely blocked up the Titans that 
they had no poflibility of efcaping. 

We have faid, Jupiter exterminated the robbers 
who laid wafte Theffaly. 

They are defcribed as formidable giants. Jupi- 
ter had built an impregnable fortrefs on mount 
Olympus, which the poets reprefented as heaven 
itfelf, and the efforts of his enemies to make them- 
felves matters of it, are defcribed by the fable of 
mount Offa heaped upon mount Pelion. 

In the battle of the Titans, Polybotes is repre- 
fented as overwhelmed by Neptune, under part 
of the ifle of Cos. This fable fignifies, that the 
admiral purfued him to this ifle, and there flew 
him. 

In one of the fables concerning the manner in 
which Jupiter was brought up in the ifle of Crete, 
it is faid that he was nouriihed by doves. 

This fable owes its origin to the Phoenician 
word Himan or Heman, which fignifies equally prieft 
and dove ; this ambiguity was fuiEcient to caufe 
the priefts, called Curetes, and doves to be con- 
founded together. 

The Curetes have acquired fo great a reputa- 
tion, that it is indifpenfabiy necefTary to give fome 
account of them. 

Antiquity carried its veneration fo far as to raife 
altars and temples to their honour : the invention 

of 



94 EXPLANATION OF FICTIONS, &C. 

of forging iron, and other metals, is attributed to 
them ; but fcripture afcribes it to Tubal Cain ; 
however it is very poilible that they were the firft 
who introduced it into Greece 5 and upon the 
Parian marbles, now called Arundelian, we fee 
recorded the event which gave the Curetes an 
opportunity of making this valuable difcovery. 

Their infcriptions import, that a fire having 
broken out in the foreil of mount Ida, either by 
lightning or fome other accident, the intenfenefs 
of the heat melted into a date of fufion a consider- 
able quantity of iron, and other metals. 

The Curetes perceived all the advantages that 
might be derived from this difcovery, found means 
to repeat it, and applied it to their own purpofes. 
The above mentioned monument informs us, that this 
event happened during the reign of the firft Minos* 
The ufe which the Curetes made of their difcovery 
was to employ metals in the fabrication of arms, 
different from thofe commonly employed. It 
appears certain, that to one of thefe Curetes or 
Dadyli Idei, called the Idean Hercules, muft be 
attributed the firft infticution of the Olympic 
Games. 

An hiftorical fragment relates, that this Her- 
cules, followed by three of his companions, quitted 
mount Ida, fituated in the ifland of Crete, and 
came into Elis s it was' there, that to commemorate 
3 * hc 



REPRESENTATION OF JUPITER. 95 

the war between Saturn and Jupiter, he inftltuted 
a courfe, and appointed as a reward for the victor 
a crown of olive. 

After having thus eftablilhed thefe games, which 
afterwards became fo famous, he raifed an altar in 
Elis to Jupiter Olympus. 

To the explanations we have already given, it 
is necefTary to add, that Typhous, or Typhon 5 
reprefented as fo formidable in the battle of 
the giants, is no other than the Typhon of the 
Egyptians. 



THE MANNER IN WHICH JUPITER WAS 
REPRESENTED. 

Jupiter was generally reprefented under 
the figure of a majeitic man, with a venerable 
beard, feated on a throne. In his right hand he 
held the thunder, and in his left was feen victory 
and a fceptre: at his feet was a large eagle 
with extended wings, in the ad of carrying off 
Ganymede. 

The upper part of his body was naked, the 
lov/er part clothed. 

The throne by its liability denoted the fecurity 
of his empire the upper part of his body was 
uncovered, to fhow that he was viable to fuperior 

beings, 



$6 REPRESENTATION OF JUPITER. 

beings, and to the celeltial parts of the univerfe ; 
and the long garments which covered the lower 
part of his body, gave us to underftand that he 
was Invifible to the earth, and to mortals ; the 
fceptre and crown, were emblematical of the irre- 
fiftible force of his power; and the eagle with out- 
ipread wings, was to exprefs that he was fovereign 
of the heavens, as the eagle is of the air. 

Each people had their different method of repre- 
fenting Jupiter. In the ifland of Crete he had no 
ears, fignifying, faid the Cretans, that the God of 
the univerfe ought to hear no one in particular, 
but be equally favourable to all who implore his 
afFiftance. The Lacedemonians gave him four 
ears, that he might receive prayers in whatever 
direction they came. The figure of juftice was 
always placed by the fide of this god. Thofe of 
the hours and graces were likewife added, to 
ihow, that he condefcends at all times to liften to the 
fupplications of mortals, is always juft, and delights 
in doing good. Homer defcribes Jupiter with 
black eyebrows, his head covered with clouds, 
and making all Olympus with a nod ; in his hands 
he holds the thunder; at his feet is the eagle; by 
his fide is refpecl and equity; before him are the 
two cups of good and evil, which he diftributes 
at pleafure to mankind. He adds, that this thun- 
der was compofed of three portions of hail, three 
of rain, three of fire, and three of wind. With 

thefe 



jupiter's metamorphoses. 97 

thefe were intermixed terror., lightnings noife and 
wrath* 

OF THE METAMORPHOSES OF JUPITER. 

It would be impoffibie to give an exact 
account of all the metamorphofes of Jupiter ; we 
fhall content ourfelves with mentioning one of the 
principal; to which we mail fubjoin fome of thofe 
with which he either rewarded or punifhed mor- 
tals. He affumed the form of an eagle, to carry 
off Ganymede, fon of Tros, king of Troy, whom 
he. appointed to ferve the gods with nectar, in the 
room of Hebe goddefs of youth. This meta- 
morphofis was not the only reafon of his being 
reprefented with an eagle at his feet. 

We learn from a mixture of fiction and hifiory, 
that Periphas, king of Athens, engaged fo much 
the affections of his people, that they wifhed to 
adore him as Jupiter himfeif; that is, have no 
other fovereign. The deity incenfed, was at firfl 
going to crufh him with a thunderbolt, but con- 
tented himfelf with changing him into an eagle, 
on which he mounted when he traverfed the 
regions of the air. 

This ftory means, that Jupiter ffripped him of 
his dominions, and gave him fome employment in 
his court. 

H We 



98 jupiter's metamorphoses. 

We likewife find in hiftory, that Jupiter, before 
his departure from Naxos, in his expedition againft 
the Titans, offered a facrifice on the fea fhore, 
and that whilft he was paying his adorations to the 
gods an eagle was feen to fly towards him, and 
alight upon his head. 

When Jupiter defcended upon the earth, he 
feldom retained his divine attributes. 

In one of his excurfions, he went to the houfe 
of Lycaon, a cruel prince of Arcadia, who put to 
death all ftrangers that arrived in his dominions. 
Jupiter however made himfelf known to Lycaon, 
who wifhing to prove the truth of his aflertion, 
ferved up to him the limbs of a gueft whom he had 
killed. This crime was punifhed inftantaneoufly, 
the palace was reduced to allies by lightning, and 
Lycaon changed into a wolf, that he might ftill 
retain under this form the marks of his original 
ferocity. In feeding the explanation of this fable, 
we find that Lycaon, a prince confiderably inferior 
to Jupiter, frequently abufed his power, and was 
guilty of enormous crimes: Jupiter, before he pu- 
nifhed him, wifhing to be certified of the truth 
himfelf, went to the court of Lycaon, and finding 
the complaints but too well founded, executed 
inftant juftice on the delinquent. 

We have already feen, that Jupiter in his 
infancy was nourifhed with the milk of the goat 
Amalthea. The fable tells us, that as a reward, 

he 



jupiter's metamorphoses. 99 

he placed her with her two kids among the ftars, 
where they formed the fign Capricorn. It like- 
wile fays, that in acknowledgment for the care 
beftowed on his infancy by the nymphs, he gave 
them one of the horns of the goat Amalthea, and 
to it added the property of producing whatever 
they mould defire j whence it was called the horn 
of plenty. 

It is eafy to perceive that this faculty of pro- 
ducing every blefling, was nothing elfe but a pro- 
mife to grant whatever they fhould require j we 
muft explain nearly in the fame manner the horn 
of abundance which Hercules received from the 
river Achelous. 

The fable relates, that this river becoming the 
rival of Hercules in the affections of the nymph 
Dejanira, ventured to engage him, and was van- 
quished. Achelous metamorphofed himfelf into 
a bull, and under this new form returned to the 
attack, but being thrown down and one of his 
horns torn off, he could not obtain the reftitution 
of it, but by yielding to the conqueror the horn 
of plenty. 

The hiftory of that exchange is as follows : The 
river Achelous being much fwelled by the rains, 
or the melting of the fnow, overflowed its banks, 
and laid wafte the country. 

Hercules to protect the crops from future 
ravages, caufed dykes to be raifed, which not 

h 2 being 



lod WORSHIP OF JUPITER* 

being fufficientiy ftrong, were broken down by 
the torrent: however he found means to repair 
them, and formed fome judicious canals which 
interfered, and by watering fertilized the lands. 

The poets celebrated this meritorious act by 
inventing the fable of the exchange juft men- 
tioned. 

To dwell longer on the hiftory of Jupiter's 
metamorphofes would be ufelefs, as we fhall find 
them interfperfed through the hiftories of the gods., 
demi- gods, and heroes. 



OF THE WORSHIP RENDERED TO JUPITER, 

It cannot be doubted but the worlhip 
#f Jupiter was the rnoft' folemn of any that was 
paid to the heathen deities it was iikewife the 
m oft diverfifledyas each nation changed their reli- 
gious ceremonies at pleafure. 

It appears certain that no human victims were 
offered to him, as they frequently were to his 
father Saturn. Of this the ftory of Lycaon is an 
indubitable proof. 

Thefe barbarous facriflces were not very com- 
mon, and when Cecrops cams to fettle at Athens 
fee abolifhed them for ever. 

The 



NAMES GIVEN TO JUPITER. tOl 

The victims moft commonly offered to Jupiter 
were a goat, a fheep, or a white bull whofe horns 
were gilt j frequently his offerings were only a little 
flour, fait, or incenfe. The oak and the olive were 
confecrated to him. 

The worfhip of this deity was almofl univerfal, 
but he was by none more particularly honoured 
than by the Roman ladies. He had feveral tem- 
ples at Rome, one of which, the mofl remarkable, 
was near the Capitol, and dedicated to Jupiter the 
Avenger. 

He was reprefented with arrows in his hand, 
to mow that he was always ready to punifh guilt. 

He had three oracles much celebrated, that of 
Dodona, of Trophonius^ and of Ammon in Lybia. 



NAMES GIVEN TO JUPITER. 

The greater part of the names given to 
Jupiter are derived from the places where he was 
honoured, or from events which had occafioned 
altars and temples to be raifed to him. As it 
would be impoffible to recount them all, we fhall 
only mention the principal. 

The titles generally bellowed on this god were 
Optimus, Maximus j the beft, the greater!. Ho- 
mer gives him the name of king Jupiter. Virgil 
h 3 calls 



J02 NAMES GIVEN TO JUPITER. 

calls him the All Powerful. During the ides of 
June, the Rorrians celebrated his feaft under the 
title of Jupiter the invincible ; he was called Sta- 
tor, becaufe he had flopped the flight of the Roman 
army ; and Piftor, in remembrance of the manner 
in which he had faved the capitol, when it was 
befieged by the Gauls. Jupiter advifed the gar- 
rifon to make bread with all the corn that remained, 
and throw it into the enemy's camp, for the pur- 
pofe of making them believe that provifions were 
in great abundance ; this ftratagem fucceeded, and 
the fiege was raifed. He was called Diefpiter, as 
being the father of light and day ; Pluvius, for 
having granted rain in the time of a great drought; 
Hofpitalis, becaufe he was the father of hofpitality; 
Father of the gods, moderator, governor, to ex- 
prefs his fovereignty over the gods; Matter of 
tempefts and winds, and frequently Serenus, be- 
caufe he rcprefented the zether ; Capitolinus, from 
his temple in the Capitol; Olympius, Atabyrius, 
Di&ceus, and Idceus, becaufe the mountains fo 
called were confecrated to him ; Dodonasus, Tro- 
phonius, and Ammon, from his oracles; and 
Tonans, and Fulminans, from the thunderbolt. 
The Greeks fometimes gave him the name of 
Egyptus, and Nilus, and he was then confounded 
with Ofiris. He was likewife termed Expiator, 
becaufe he abfolved the crimes of men. 
Thefe are the principal names of Jupiter* 

THE 



HISTORY OF JAPETUS, &C. 



10$ 



THE HISTORY OF JAPETUS, PROMETHEUS, 
EPIMETHEUS AND PANDORA. 

These princes being much celebrated, 
and of the family of the Titans, we mail place 
their hiftory immediately after that of Jupiter, 

Japetus, from whom the Greeks boaft that 
they were defcended, was the fon of Titan, and 
father of Prometheus (a Greek name, fignifying 
to fore fee the future), and Epimetheus (which 
fignifies to remember the pad). 

Prometheus feeing that Jupiter had created 
man, endeavoured to imitate him, by forming 
ftatues with clay, and attained fo great a 
degree of perfection that they appeared almoft 
animated. Minerva, the goddefs of wifdom, tel- 
ling him that heavenly fire alone could give them 
life, the ambitious Prometheus conceived hopes 
of ftealing this he lighted a flambeau at the rays 
of the fun, and as foon as he had communicated 
this celeftial flame to his ftatues, they became 
fimilar to the work of Jupiter. 

The fovereign of the gods, to punim this theft, 
ordered Mercury to bind Prometheus upon mount 
Caucafus, where a vulture was continually tearing 

h 4 his 



1©4 HISTORY OF JAPETUS, &C. 

his liver, which growing as faft: as it was confumecl 

rendered his puni foment eternal. 

The other gods, jealous that Jupiter alone mould 

poffefs the power of creating man, united their 

talents to form a perfect woman. Minerva gave 

her wifdom, Venus beauty, Apollo a knowledge 

of mufic, and Mercury eloquence. 

This affemblage of perfections procured her the 

name of Pandora, a name derived from two Greek 

words, fignifying all gifts. 

Jupiter wiflied to fee her, and under pretence 

of likewife bellowing fome endowment upon her, 
gave her a box with orders to carry it to Prome- 
theus. This prince, too wife and cautious not to 

perceive the danger of fuch a mefiage, refilled to 
receive Pandora, or open the box ; but the impru- 
dent Epimetheus^ feduced by the beauty of Pan- 
dora, took her for his wife, and had by her a 
daughter named Pyrrha, who was afterwards mar- 
ried to Deucalion. Unable to re ft rain his curiofity, 
Epimetheus ventured to open the box given by 
Jupiter to Pandora, which containing every fpecies 
of evil, they in an inftant efcaped, and difperfed 
themfelves over the whole earth. 

Epimetheus regretting too late his fatal curiofity, 
wifhed to clofe the box, but alas ! it now contained 
only Hope, the laft refource of unhappy mortals. 
This deluge of woes produced the iron age. 
This fable, the moil beautiful of any tranfmitted 

to 



FABLE OF PROMETHEUS. 105 

to us by the Greeks, reminds us too readily of 
the fall of Adam to need any other explanation, 
than by faying, it is a corrupt tradition of the 
hiftory of the creation of man, and- of the inftant 
when he loft his happinefs with his innocence. 



HISTORICAL ENOUIRY INTO THE FABLE 
OF PROMETHEUS, 

Observation and a ftudy of antiquity 
Induce us to believe, that Prometheus was the firft 
inventor of ftatues. A beautiful monument which 
has efcaped the ravages of time, (an engraving of 
which is found in the firft volume of Jntiquity 
explained by figures) reprefents Prometheus form- 
ing a man j he is feen working with a chifTel and 
a mallet i a certain proof that the formation of 
ftatues is concerned. To conform to the poetical 
defcriptions, Minerva is placed by his fide affift- 
ing him with her advice, and near them is a car 
containing Pfyche, fymboi of the foul, who is 
known by having the wings of a butterfly. 

Every thing proves that this monument was 
intended to mow the perfection Prometheus attain- 
ed in the formation of his ftatues, which appeared 
even animated, and that he could not have arrived at 
fo great a degree of excellence^ had he not received 

the 



106 FABLE OF PROMETHEUS. 

the afliftance of Minerva, goddefs of wifdom, and 
the arts. 

This firfl imitation of man fo much aftonifhed 
the original, that Prometheus is reprefented in the 
fable as^ afecond creator: Dcedalus was afterwards 
feigned to make theie ftatues walk, becaufe in 
carving them he firfl: feparated the legs. 

Prometheus was one of the Titans who ren- 
dered themfelves formidable to Jupiter ; obliged 
to fly before that victorious prince, he retired into 
Scythia, and concealed himfelf in the forefts of 
mount Caucafus, which feemed the habitation only 
of eagles and vultures. The grief occafioned by 
an exile fo mortifying to an ambitious mind, was 
reprefented by a vulture tearing his liver. 

Hiflory informs us that the inhabitants of Scy- 
thia and Caucafus, who were very numerous, lived 
without laws, in a ftate of the grolfeft ignorance. 
Prometheus, a wife and polite prince, taught them 
to live in a more civilized focial ftate, which gave 
rife to the fable, that with the afliftance of Minerva 
he had formed man. 

He is like wife reprefented as ftealing fire front 
heaven, becaufe he firft introduced forges into 
Scythia. "When the empire of Jupiter was fo 
firmly eftabliihed that it could no longer be lhaken 
by the attempts of the Titans, Hercules obtained 
the pardon of Prometheus, and this occafioned 
the ftory that he had liberated him from Caucafus, 
i and 



FABLE OF PROMETHEUS. 10/ 

and killed the vulture. Yet as Jupiter had fworn 
that his banifhment mould laft thirty years, he 
thought at once to mitigate his punifhment and 
fulfil his oath, by permitting Prometheus to wear 
on his finger a fragment of a rock of mount Cau- 
cafus; it is even thought that from thence arofe 
the cuftom of wearing rings on the finger. 

Prometheus availing himfelf of his liberty, re- 
turned to pafs the remainder of his days in Greece, 
where after his death he received thofe honours 
which were paid to demi-gods and heroes. 

Some ancient hiflorians and commentators, 
give another interpretation to the ftory of Prome- 
theus having ftolen celeflial fire. They fay, that 
this prince difcovered the method of obtaining 
fire with the flint and fteel. According to others, 
Prometheus forefeeing that he fhould find no fire 
in Caucafus, took the precaution of carrying fome 
with him in a plant called by the Latins, ferula, 
which has a ftalk five or fix feet high, and is full 
of pith 3 when lighted it confumes flowly, and 
continues burning as long as any of this pith 
remains. It is a plant well known to failors, and 
frequently employed by them to carry fire from 
one ifland to another. , 

We may obferve by thefe two explanations the 
value which men ftamped on the fir ft ufeful dif- 
coveriesj they thought the inventors of them 
worthy of divine honours. 

Money 



loS HISTORY OF JUN[0. 

Money is fufficieat to pay the labourer, "but 
genius has a claim to greater rewards ; and let us 
never forget, that the labours of thofe men are 
entitled to our warmer!: gratitude who devote part 
of their lives to the advancement of fcience, and 
the real intererl of mankind. 

Hiltory has preferved nothing concerning Epi- 
tnetheus. We only meet with his name in fiction, 
which contents itfelf with faying, that lie was me- 
tarnorphcfed into an ape. 

From this we may imagine that he wifhed to 
imitate his brother, but being neither fo prudent 
nor fo fkilful, failed in -the attempt; for which he 
was compared to an ape, an animal which imitates 
whatever it fees. 



HISTORY AND FABLE OF JUNO. 

Juno was the daughter of Saturn and 
Rhea, and filler to Jupiter, Neptune, Pluto, Venus, 
and Ceres. She was called by the Greeks Hera, 
Miftrefs; or Megale, the great. The Romans 
gave her the name of Juno, from Juvans; affifting, 
(an epithet common to both her and Jupiter) they 
like wife called her the Queen. 

Several countries difputed the honour of having 
given birth to this goddefs; the principal were 
3 j, , Samoa 



HISTORY OF JUNO* 109 

Samos and Argos, where Ihe was more particularly - 
worshipped. 

Homer fays Ihe was brought up by Oceanus and 
his wife Thetis ; others on the contrary fay, by 
the daughters of the river Afcerion ; laftly, others, 
that the hours took charge of her infancy. 

In the time of the Titan princes men ftill fol- 
lowed the cuitoms of the ancient patriarchs, and 
Jupiter, after the example of his father and grand- 
father, efpoufed his filler Juno. 

The nuptials were celebrated in the country of 
the Gnofiians, near the river Therenus. In the 
time of Diodorus, the temple of Juno was {till to 
be feen there; it was ferved by priefb of the 
country, and every year the inhabitants comme- 
morated the ceremony of this marriage. 

Jupiter, to give more folemnity to the occafion, 
charged Mercury to invite all the gods, men, and 
animals. The nymph Chelone defpifmg the invita- 
tion, was thrown by Mercury into a river, and 
changed into a tortoife, that fhe might keep 
eternal filence ; the Greek word fignifying a tor- 
toife, and that animal being regarded by the ancients 
as the fymbol of filence. 

Juno had three children: Hebe, goddefs of 
youth, who before the carrying off of Ganymede 
ferved the gods with nectar. The fable fays, that 
a fail which flie experienced in heaven excited 

the 



HO HISTORY OF JUNO. 

the laughter of the gods, which determined Jupiter 
to have a cup bearer. Her fecond child was Mars, 
whom fhe conceived by virtue of a flower. Juno, 
jealous that Jupiter had from his brain produced 
Minerva, the goddefs of wifdom, wifhed like wife 
to produce fome thing equally furprifing. She 
confulted the goddefs Flora, who told her that in 
the fields of Olena grew a flower which would ope- 
rate the defired effect as foon as flie Ihould touch it. 

Juno tried the experiment, and became the 
mother of Mars the god of war. 

Vulcan was her third child. Jupiter for his 
deformity threw him headlong from heaven. 

We fhall, in its proper place, give the hiftory 
of Vulcan, as well as that of Mars and Minerva ; 
but we fhall {top here to explain the extraordinary 
births of the two laft mentioned. 

The fable fays, that Jupiter felt violent pain in 
his head, and that Minerva, his nobleft production, 
came forth completely formed and armed, without 
having paflfed through the ftate of infancy. It 
adds, that he defired Vulcan to divide his head with 
an axe. 

This fable is allegorical, and fignifies that wifdom 
is not acquired without exertion, which is expreflfed 
by the blow of the axe, and the pain which Jupiter 
experienced. 

It is likewife intended to exprefs, that Jupiter 

being 



HISTORY OF JUNO. Ill 

being the wifeft and greateft of the divinities, the 
goddefs Wifdom proceeded from his brain in all 
her perfection. 

The birth of the god of war has another origin, 
though likewife an allegory. 

Juno, a haughty jealous goddefs, had frequent 
quarrels with Jupiter, flie even took part againft 
him with the Titans; implacable in her anger, 
revenge was her darling paflion ; this is the reafon 
why the god of war was faid to be her fon. The 
lean: offence excited her refentment ; the refufal of 
a flower was in her eyes crime fufficient to draw 
down her hatred and vengeance. 

Her pride and jealoufy were cruelly felt after 
the fhepherd Paris had preferred Venus to her, 
when he was charged to give to the molt beautiful 
the apple thrown by the goddefs Difcord. Paris 
was fon to Priam, king of the Trojans; this was 
the caufe of thofe perfecutions experienced by 
^Eneas, and his unhappy followers ; all thofe Jbe- 
loved by Jupiter, as well as their children, fhe 
perfecuted with increafing hatred. 

Weaned by fo much malice and revenge, Jupiter 
refolved to puniih Juno for having taken part 
againft him in his war with the Titans. 

He fufpended her in the air by means of two 
loadftoncs, and after having bound her hands be- 
hind her, faftened two anvils to her feet. This 

talk 



112 HISTORY OF JUNO. 

talk was afTigned to Vulcan, who willingly executed 
it to revenge himfelf on her for having brought 

O DO 

him into the world in fuch a ftate of deformity. 

None of the gods could deliver her from 
thefe fetters. They were obliged to have re- 
courfe to Vulcan, who, as his reward, demanded 
in marriage Venus, the moil beautiful of the 
goddefTes. 

This punifhment did not reform Juno. The 
nymph 16, daughter of Inaehus and Ifmena, 
having engaged the affections of Jupiter, became 
the object of her revenge. 

To conceal this nymph from the knowledge of 
Juno, Jupiter metamorphofed her into a cow; 
but this artifice could not deceive the goddefs : 
me, in a peremptory manner, demanded that this 
cow mould be entrufted to her, and Jupiter 
dared not refufe. When in her " poffefiion fhe 
committed it to the care of Argus, who had an 
hundred eyes. 

To furprife this fpy was impoflible : fifty of his 
eyes watched, whilft the other fifty took repofe — 
a perfect image of jealoufy. 

However, Mercury, at the re que ft of Jupiter, 
lulled him to fleep with his flute, and then flew 
him. Juno, to recompenfe Argus, changed him 
into a peacock, and was pleafed that kis eyes 
mould remain imprinted upon his plumage. 

This 



HISTORY OF JUNO. H3 

This bird was efpecially confecrated to her : 
Ihe is frequently reprefented in a car drawn by 
two of them. 

The death of Argus did not deliver the un- 
happy 16 from the perfecutions of Juno. She 
produced from the earth a gad fly, which incef- 
fantly purfued the daughter of Inachus. Driven 
to defpair by thefe perpetual torments, fhe 
plunged into the Tea, fwam acrofs the Mediter- 
ranean, and landed in Egypt, where fhe recovered 
her original form. 

She had a fon named Epaphus. The worfhip 
paid by the Egyptians to the goddefs Jfis, under 
the form of a cow, has certainly given occafion 
to this fable ; and the manner in which 16 croffed 
the Mediterranean can have been nothing but a 
voyage by fea. 

Mercury was the meffenger of Jupiter, and 
Iris that of Juno, who, in return for her fervices, 
placed her in Heaven under the form of a 
rainbow. 

The children of Cadmus, whofe fifter Europa 
was carried off by Jupiter, were the unhappy 
victims of Juno's jealoufy. Ino the eldeft of the 
four daughters of this prince, having efpoufed 
Athamas, was fo perfecuted by Juno, that fhe 
threw herfeif into the fea, with her fon Melicertes, 
who was afterwards honoured as a fea god, ustder 
the name of Paljemon, 

I Agave, 



V 



114 HISTORY OF JUNO, 

Agave, daughter of Echion, faw her fon Pen- 
theus torn in pieces by the Bacchanalians. 

Autonoe, wife of Ariftasus, with grief beheld 
her fon Acteon changed into a (lag, and devoured 
by his own dogs. This young prince conducted 
by Juno, or ibme fatal chance, had furprifed 
Diana bathing, Laftly, Semele, the wife of 
Amphytrion, having, at the inftigation of Juno, 
defired to fee Jupiter in all his glory, was con- 
fumed by the rays which furrounded him. 

Such were the cruel means by which Juno 
revenged herfelf on the charms of Europa, for 
having engaged the affections of Jupiter. 

iEgina, daughter of Afopus king of the country 
of iEgina, became a fource of mifery to her 
unhappy fubjecfts. Juno vifited them with a 
deadly peftilence, becaufe fne had iafpired Jupiter 
with fentiments of tendernefs. /Eacus, fon of 
/Egina, intreating his father Jupiter to re-people 
the . country, that god, from an old oak in the 
foreft of Dodona, produced a prodigious iwarm 
of ants, which were immediately metamorphofed 
into men. 

The Greeks who followed Achilles to the 
Trojan war, pretended to be defcended from thefc 
ants. They were called Myrmidons, from the 
Greek word mynr.ex, which fignifies an ant. 

Juno is generally reprefented under the figure 
of a woman feated upon a throne, holding in one 

hand 



HISTORY Ot jtJNO; 11$ 

hand a fceptre, and in the other a fpindle j on her 
head is a radiant crown. Sometimes her head is 
encircled with a rainbow. 

In her temple at Argos> was her ftatue of gold 
and ivory of prodigious lize, and above it were 
placed the hours and graces. 

This goddefs principally prefided over empires 
and riches. She offered both, but in vain, to 
Paris, if he would give her the apple in pre- 
ference to Venus. She alio prefided over child- 
birth 5 on which occafion me was called Lucina , 
and when me is reprefented exercifing this func- 
tion, fiie is feen feated, holding in one hand an 
infant in fwaddling clothes, and in the other a 
flower 3 or elfe with a whip in one hand, and a 
fceptre in the other* 

During the feafts called Lupercalia, the women 
"Were defirous of being itruck with this whip. 

At Rome fhe had a magnificent temple, under 
the name of Matuta $ another at Samos* under 
that of Samia. Sometimes Hie was called the 
Earth, as Jupiter was Rain, or the Airj becaufe 
both equally fertilize the earth. Of all the pagan 
divinities, there was none whofe worfhip was more 
folemn, or more univerfaL The prodigies fhe 
had operated, and her vengeance when neglected, 
or when any one had the temerity to put them- 
jfelves in competition with her, inipired fb much 
fear and awe, that nothing was omitted to honour 
j 2 heri 



Il6 HISTORY OF JUNO. 

her, and render her propitious ; fo that her wor- 
fhip was more general even than that of Jupiter. 
Divine honours were paid to her in Europe, Alia, 
Africa, and particularly in Syria and Egypt, 
though we muft remark, that the Juno of the 
Egyptians was the fame as Ifis and Aftarte. 
Young geefe, the hawk, and the peacock, were 
particularly confecrated to her. Among the 
Egyptians the vulture. Of plants, the dittany and 
poppy were offered to her. In her facrifices a ewe 
lamb was the ordinary vi&im. So great was the 
refpeft for this goddefs, that every one having 
their genius, that of the women was called Juno. 

Cleobis and Biton, two brothers celebrated for 
their piety, drew the chariot of their mother, who 
was going to the temple of Juno, the diftance of 
forty ftadia. The grateful parent befought Juno 
to reward them as their piety deferved. After 
having offered their facrifices, the brothers took 
their repaft and retired peacefully to reft, but it 
was to their eternal reft, they flept to, wake no 
more. From that time the inhabitants of Argos 
looked upon death as the moft perfect repofe, and 
the greateft of bleflings. They raifed two ftatues 
to Cleobis and Biton, where they were reprefented 
drawing the chariot of their mother. 



The 



HISTORY OF HYMEN, &C. 



117 



The History of Hymen, Hymen^eus and other 
Deities who presided over Marriage. 

We think it proper that the hiftory of 
Juno Lucina lhould be followed by that of 
Hymen. 

It was from him that the Greeks gave this 
name to the union of man and wife, and that of 
Hymens a to marriage feftivals. 

It is faid that there was at Athens a young man 
of fingular beauty, but very poor and of obfcure 
birth, whofe name was Hymenasus. He fixed 
his affections on a female of his own country, 
much fuperior to him in rank and fortune. One 
day as me was going with the Athenian women to 
celebrate a feaft in honour of Ceres upon the fea 
Ihore — from which men were excluded— Hyme- 
nals difguifed himfelf as a woman and joined in 
the proceflion. During the ceremony the women 
w r ere furprifed and carried off by pirates. In- 
flamed by the fight of the wine brought for the 
feftival, they drank till they were intoxicated, and 
the fumes fo overpowered their fenfes that they 
fell into a profound fleep. 

The valiant Hymenasus then made himfelf 
Jcnown, exhorted the women to affill him, feized 

i 3 the 



*l8 HISTORY OF HYM£N, &C. 

the arms of their ravifliers, and mafiacred thens 
whilft in a ftate of infenfibility. After this ex- 
ploit Hymenasus haftened to Athens, told what 
he had done for the deliverance of the Athenian 
ladies, and demanded, as his reward, the obje£fc 
of his love in marriage ; which requeft was 
granted. 

The Athenians in commemoration of this 
event, and the happy marriage it was the occa- 
lion of, afterwards invoked Hymenals as a divi- 
nity, and celebrated feafts to his honour. 

To give luftre £o his obfeure birth, it was re- 
ported that he was defcencied from the god pf day 
and the mufe Calliope. 

This deity was always reprefented under the 
figure of a beautiful young man, crowned with 
Bowers and marjoram, holding in his right hand 
a flambeau, and in his left a veil, the colour of 
fire, or a bright yellow. 

Though the Romans adopted this divinity of 
£he Greeks, they wi(hed likewife to have their 
©wn god .of marriage. A circumftance nearly 
lirailar to that juft related, having happened at the 
time of the rape of the Sabine women ; Thalaflius, 
the hero of that adventure, received the fame 
honours as Hymenseus. 

The Romans likewife honoured two other 
deities, 3s prefiding over marriage, Jugatinus and 
DomidOcus, 

HISTORY 



HISTORY OF CERES. 



/ 

i*9 



HISTORY OF CERES. 

The fable and hiftory of Ceres ought 
properly to be clafTed with thofe of the infernal 
deities but we think it neceflary to relate part of 
it to facilitate the knowledge of the family of the 
Titans. 

The fame reafon will induce us afterwards to 
give fome account of Atlas and his daughters. 

Ceres was daughter of Saturn and Cybele, and 
was fuppofed to be the firft who cultivated the 
earth. 

Pluto her brother having carried off her daugh- 
ter Proferpine, and taken her to the infernal re- 
gions — that is to Spain — Ceres complained of this 
violence to Jupiter, who decreed, that i*he fhould 
go and demand her daughter, and that Pluto 
fhould be compelled to reflore her, provided flie 
had neither eaten nor drunken during her refidence 
in his dominions unfortunately fhe had already 
taken part of a pomegranate, which was perceived 
and told by Afcalaphus. This fo irritated Ceres 
that flic threw fome of the waters of Phlegethon 
into the informer's face, and he was immediately 
transformed into an owl, the harbinger of mif- 
fortune. 

i 4 Minerva 



ISO 



HISTORY OF CERES* 



Minerva afterwards took the owl under her 
protection, becaufe it is a watchful bird and 
difcerns objects in the dark — an allegory perfectly 
applicable to wifdom, which is always guarded 
againft furprife. 

In feeking the explanation of this fable we find, 
that, by the advice of Afcalaphus, Proferpine 
confented to efpoufe Pluto, which was the caufe 
of much regret to Ceres. Afcalaphus became the 
object of her vengeance ; but it appears that his 
prudence and wifdom engaged Minerva to take 
him under her protection. 

Jupiter, willing to appeafe and confole Ceres, 
permitted Proferpine to pafs one half of the 
year in the infernal regions, and the other half in 
heaven. This divifion of the year admits of two 
explanations. 

Proferpine was frequently taken for the moonj 
and this fable was intended to exprefs the time 
when fhe difappears : but it is explained in a man- 
ner ftill more natural by faying, that Jupiter per- 
mitted her to pafs part of the year in the dominions 
of Pluto, and part with her mother Ceres. 

We friall not dwell too much upon the expla- 
nation of thefe fables, but we think it neceflary to 
give fome examples, in order to accuflom our 
readers to make ufe of their fagacity, and we doubt 
not but on many occafions we fhall be furpafled 
in this fpecies of ftudy and refearch. 

The 



HISTORY OF THE ATLANTIDES. 121 

The fountain of Arethufa which flowed under 
ground, was witnefs to this acl: of violence on the 
part of Pluto. She informed Ceres of it, who, 
with two flambeaus in her hand, went in queft of 
her daughter. 

Arethufa, daughter of Nereus and the nymph 
Doris, had been one of Diana's nymphs, and 
was by her metamorphofed into a fountain, to 
fave her when purfued by the river Alpheus. 
We have already given the explanation of 
this fable. 

We /hall purfue no farther the hiftory of Ceres, 
as we fhall meet with it again in fpeaking of the 
infernal deities. 

Diodorus Siculus relates, that after the death 
of Hyperion, the children of Uranus divided 
the kingdom amongft them. The two moft 
famous of their children were Saturn and Atlas. 

The maritime parts were the portion of Atlas, 
His fubjects were called Atlantes, and his name 
was likewife given to the higheft mountain of the 
country. He excelled in aftronomy, and was the 
firft who reprefented the terreftrial globe by a 
Iphere, which gave occafion to the fable of his 
fupporting the world upon his fhoulders. He had 
feveral children. 

Hefperus was the moft remarkable for his piety, 
juftice^.. and goodnefs. Being one day on the 
higheft point of Mount Atlas, he was carried 

away 



122 



HISTORY OF THE ATLANTIDES* 



away by a fudden guft ' of wind, and his body- 
could never be found. 

The people, affected at his unhappy fate, and 
mindful of his virtues, thought he was taken by 
the gods up to heaven, and granted him divine 
honours. To perpetuate his name, it was given 
to the moft brilliant of the planets. 

Atlas had feven daughters much celebrated, who 
were called Atlantides 5 but their real names were 
Maia, " Ele&ra, Taygete, Afterope, Merope, 
Alcyone, and Csleno. 

They were beloved by the moil illuftrious 
heroes, and had children, who afterwards equalled 
their fathers, and became fovereigns of power- 
ful nations. Maia, the eldeft, had, by Jupiter, 
Mercury the inventor of arts. 

According to the Grecian accounts, almoft 
all their heroes were defcended from the At- 
lantides. 

After their death they were honoured as god- 
deffes, and placed among the conftellations, 
under the name of the Pleiades. They were 
fometimes called Hefperides, from their mother 

Hefperis. 

Their great reputation for beauty induced Bufi- 
ris, king of Spain, to attempt carrying them off 
by means of pirates, whom he fent into their 
country. Thefe pirates furprifed them in a gar- 
den, feiz.ed them, and were preparing to embark 

therr^ 



HISTORY OF THE ATLANTIDES. 123 

diem, when their cries were heard by Hercules 
who happened to be upon the Tea more. He ran 
to their affiftance, eafily put to flight their cowardly 
ravifhers, and reflored them to their father Atlas, 
who out of gratitude gave him the golden apples 
of the garden of the Hefperides, which the hero 
was come to conquer, by order of Erictheus, king 
of Athens. 

Thefe golden apples were probably oranges, at 
that time very rare, which Atlas carefully guarded 
by large maftifFs; and this gave rife to the fable, 
that they were of gold, and defended by a dragon. 

Atlas did not confine his gratitude to this tri- 
fling prefent, he inftructed Hercules in aftronomy, 
and that hero acquired immortal glory by firft 
introducing into Greece the knowledge of the 
fphere. 

It was on this occafion, that Atlas was feigned 
to have requefted him to bear the burden of the 
world a fhort time, that he might obtain fome 
repofe. 

Mount Atlas is of fuch a ftupendous height, that 
it feems to reach the heavens, its fummit is loft in 
the clouds, and the poets confounding this moun- 
tain with the prince whofe name it bore, defcribed 
Atlas as fupporting the world. It was likewife 
fpeaking of this mountain, that the poets in the 
hiftory of Perfeus, reprefented him as me tamo r~ 

phofing 



124 HISTORY OF THE SUN. 

phofing Atlas into a rock, by prefenting to him 
the head of Medufa. 

The Hyades likewife palled for the daughters 
of Atlas*: they were reckoned fix in number, 
Eudora, Ambrofia, Pediila, Coronis, Phileto and 
Polixo. Some add Thyaneas. They derive their 
name from the Greek word Hyade > which fignifies 
rainy. 

It appears, that thefe pretended daughters of 
Atlas were poetical perfonages, which reprefented 
fome ftars difcovered by Atlas as we at prefent 
give the name of Herfchell to the planet lately dif- 
covered by that famous Aftronomer. 



HISTORY OF THE SUN. 

The Greeks and Romans always con- 
founded the fun with Apollo. Plato allures us they 
were the fame. Cicero fays, the fun and moon 
are two divinities, one of which is called Apollo, 
and the other Diana. Plutarch is of the fame 
opinion. Notwithstanding thefe authorities, the 
Arundelian marble, and all ancient monuments 
prove, that they mould be diftinguifhed from . each 
other. 

Apollo is always painted under the figure of a 
young man, having a bow, or a lyre, in his hand, 

whilft 



HISTORY OF THE SUN. 125 

whilft the fuji is reprefented with his head fur- 
rounded with rays, holding in one hand a globe, 
which is never obferved in any reprefentation of 
Apollo. 

The adoration of the fun is the firft idolatrous 
worfhip known : we have already given an account 
of it under the name of Sabifm. The Egyptians, 
Phoenicians, Arabians, and Perfians adored the fun 
long before the Apollo of the Greeks was known. 

It was worfhipped by all the people of the eaft ; 
by the Chaldeans and Phoenicians under the name of 
Belus ; by the Egyptians, under that of Ofiris and 
Orus his fon j the Ammonites called it Moloch the 
Perfians Mythras : it was only among the Greeks 
and Romans that thefe two divinities were con- 
founded together. The fun was particularly adored 
in the Ifle of Rhodes ; the inhabitants of which 
raifed to its honour a coloffal flatue of brafs an 
hundred feet high. It was one of the feven won- 
ders of the world, and was overthrown by an earth- 
quake. 

Hiftory tells us, that the Saracens having 
taken this Ifland, loaded nine hundred camels with 
the Fragments of this ftatue alone. 

Antiquity has tranfmitted to us the names of the 
four horfes which drew the chariot of the fun. 
Ovid calls them Eous, Pyrois, iEthon, and 
Phlegon; names which fignify in Greek, Red, 
Luminous, Shining, and to love the Earth. The 

firft 



HISTORY OF THE SUN"* 



firft denotes the rifing of the fun, whofe rays at that 
moment are red - y the fecond, the period when it 
acquires a brighter colour] the r § third reprefents noon, 
when it is in ail its glory 3 and the fourth, the time 
of its fetting, when it appears to approach the 
earth* 

The fun prefides over the twelve figns of the 
Zodiac, each of which anfwers to a month of the 
year ; fo that the fun by completing his courfe 
through them in twelve months, has procured 
them the appellation of the twelve houfes of the 
fun. 

In March he enters the fign of the ram, which 
reprefents that upon which Phryxus and Helle fled 
to efcape the perfections of their cruel ftep- 
mother. 

In April, he enters the Bull, which reprefents 
the animal whofe form Jupiter afiumed to carry off 
Europa. 

In May, that of the twins, which reprefent 
Caftor and Pollux, fons of Jupiter and Leda. 

In June, that of the Crab, fuppofed to be the 
fame which came to bite Hercules while killing 
the Hydra of Lerna. 

In July, that of the Lion, which reprefents the 
one (lain by Hercules in the Forefl: of Nemea> 
whofe fkin he wore on his moulders* 

In Auguft, that of the Virgin, or Aftrea. Du-* 
ring the golden age me dwelt upon earth, but 
3 when 



HISTORY OF THE SUN. 

when that terminated, unable to fupport the fight 
of human depravity, lhe afeended to heaven with 
the other gods. She was the laft that quitted the 
earth, and retired to that part of heaven which 
forms the fign of the Virgin. 

In September, the . fun enters the fign of the 
Balance, which reprefents Juftice, whofe Balance 
ought always to be equally poifed — It lignifies like- 
wife that in this month, day and night are of equal 
length. 

In October it enters the fign of the Scorpion, 
which reprefents Orion, whom Diana metamor- 
phofed into that Animal. 

In November, that of Sagittarius, which repre- 
fents the Centaur Chiron who was an archer. He 
was the preceptor of Hercules, and much beloved 
by that grateful hero ; but in the battle between 
he Lapithas and the Centaurs, Hercules involun- 
tarily wounded him with one of his arrows dipt in 
the blood of the Hydra, which occasioned fuch 
racking torture that, though'immortal, he wiftied to 
die. The gods moved with his complaints grant- 
ed his requeft. He died, and was translated to 
heaven, where he was placed among the; figns of 
the Zodiac. 

In December, that of the Goat, which repre- 
fents the Goat Amalthea, or the Princefs Meliffa 
who nurfed Jupiter during his infancy. 

In January, that of Aquarius which reprefents 

Ganymede 



328 



HISTORY OF THE SUN. 



Ganymede pouring out neclar for Jupiter and the 
other gods. — It likewife denotes the abundance of 
tain which falls in this month. 

In February, it enters the fign called Pifces, 
which, reprefents the Dolphins who drew the car 
of Neptune and Amphitrite. 

Men did not confine themfelves to Aftronomy ; 
the defire of penetrating into futurity gave birth to 
Aftrologys a falfe fcience, calculated to deceive 
the ignorant and gratify the avarice of thofe who 
knew how to turn it to their advantage. Aftrolo- 
gers, to make themfelves of greater importance, 
pretended that each fign of the Zodiac anfwered 
to a part of the human body. 

Among thofe perfcns who conftituted figns of 
the Zodiac, we muft particularly remark Orion, 
whofe ftory is as follows : — 

Jupiter, Neptune, and Mercury, making the 
tour of the earth, went to the houfe of one GEnopeus 
or Hyreus, who not only received them with 
hofpitality, but killed his only remaining ox for 
their entertainment. The gods admiring the 
good intention and generofity of this honeft man, 
told him, they would grant whatever he fhonld 
defire. A fon, without a wife, was his requeft ; it 
was granted> and the gods produced Orion from 
the fkin of the fame ox that had been killed for 
their repair. : they formed him with a mixture of 
earth and water. 

i Orion 



HISTORY OF THE SUN. izg 

Orion when arrived at years of maturity, became 
a hunter, but being mortally wounded by a Ser- 
pent, Diana, goddefs of the chace, changed him 
into the confleliation which bears his name. 

Orion is thought to have been a difciple of 
Atlas, and to have firft inftructed the Greeks in the 
movements of the celeftial bodies, for which reafon, 
at his death, he was placed among the* figns of the 
Zodiac. The Sun Was fuppofed to have feveral 
children. Otes and Paftphae parTed for his 
daughters, and Rhodia, fo called from the ifland 
of Rhodes. The poets fay, that the day fhe was 
born there fell a fhower of gold, and that the rofe 
trees of the ifland of Rhodes mot forth in frefh 
bloflbms. 

But the moil diftinguifhed of his children were Au- 
rora and Phaeton. Aurora every morning opens the 
gates of heaven, precedes her father, and announces 
his return. She one day carried off Tithonus, fort 
of Laomedon, and petitioned the gods to render 
him immortal her requeft was granted, but fhe 
Could not obtain for him eternal youth. Tithonus^ 
fecurc of immortality, thought only of the happi- 
nefs he enjoyed with his Aurora; he forgot that 
time has wings, and in its flight carries away youth 
and beauty. Its ravages had no effect, on Aurora, 
poflefTed of all the attributes of a divinity, whilft 
every day, every year, hurried on Tithonus to a 
ftate of infirmity and old age. The difguft which 

K attends 



ll<7 HISTORY OF THE SUX. 

attends this date rendered life infupportable; im- 
mortality to him was now only a painful burthen; 
he again had recourfe to the influence of Aurora 
with the gods and Ihe, moved with companion, 
procured his transformation into a grafhopper. 

This charming Grecian fable is an allegory, the 
object of which is, to exhibit to our view the im- 
prudence of many of our wifnes, and to fhow, that 
were they all to be granted, we fhould frequently 
only eternize our mifery and regret. 

From the union of Aurora and Tithonus fprung 
Memnon, who affifted Priam in the Trojan war. 
Ke was (lain by Achilles, and his mother from his 
funeral pile produced birds, which from that time 
were called Memnonides. 

Aurora made a fecond rape, which was attended 
with melancholy circumftances. 

Cephalus was newly married to Procris. Their 
tendernefs was mutual, and nothing was wanting to 
complete their happinefs. The pleafures of the 
chace frequently led Cephalus into the woods be- 
fore break of day. Aurora furpriied him, and 
carried him off in her chariot. The fight of the 
goddefs did not prevent him from delivering him- 
felf up to all the defpair he felt at being feparated 
from his beloved Procris. 

Aurora reftored him to the earth, and gave him 
a javelin which never failed of its intended object. 
His painon for hunting again carried Cephalus 

into 



HISTORY OF PHAETON. Igl 

into the woods his wife alarmed at his frequent 
abfence, and fearful of a new rival among the 
nymphs, or even goddefTes, went and concealed 
herfelf in the middle of a thicket to obferve his 
motions; an involuntary movement which fhe 
made occafioning fome noife, deceived Cephalus ; 
he levelled the fatal fhaft, and with his own hand 
pierced the bread of the tender, unhappy Procris, 



HISTORY OF PHAETON. 

The fall of the rafh Phaeton, offspring 
of the Sun, is too well known to be pafled over in 
filence. 

Epaphus fon of Jupiter and the nymph 16, 
difputed him the honour of being defcended from 
the Sun. Phaeton irritated at this reproach, con- 
fulted his mother Climene, who advifed him to go 
to the palace of his father, and demand fome proof 
of his defcent. The Sun having fworn by the 
river Styx that he would grant whatever he mould 
defire, the imprudent Phaeton demanded for a 
fingle day only, the command of the chariot which 
brings light to the world. The god of day no longer 
able to refufe, was obliged to comply. In vain 
did he give directions to the rafh youth. The 

k 2 hgrfes 



132 HISTORY OF APOLLO. 

horfes quickly perceived the weaknefs of the hand 
which guided them ; they quitted the track they 
ought to have purfued, and involved heaven and 
earth in one general conflagration. 

The unhappy Phaeton was, by a thunderbolt 
from Jupiter, precipitated into the river Po. The 
Heliades, his difconfolate fillers, were changed 
into poplars, and their tears into drops of amber : 
Cygnus his brother died of grief, and was meta- 
morphofed into a fwan. 

This fable appears to be an allegorical defcrip- 
tion of an ambitious young man, who engages in 
undertakings beyond his ftrength. However, we 
read of one Phaeton a great aftronomer, who 
reigned over the country of the Moloffi> and 
drowned himfelf in the river Po. 



HISTORY AND FABLE OF APOLLO* 

Jupiter having quitted Juno for Latona, 
had by her two children, Apollo and Diana* 
Before their birth the enraged goddefs incited 
againft her rival a dreadful ferpent called Python. 

This monfter, according to the poets, was pro- 
duced from the mud left upon the earth after the 
univerfal deluge. This fable much refembles that 
of the ferpent generated by the peftilential ex- 
halations 



HISTORY OF APOLLO. 133 

halations of the river Nile ; and there is every reafon 
to believe, that the Greeks formed their Apollo 
after the model of Orus fon of Ofiris, whom the 
Egyptians confounded with the fun. 

We mall give the ilory of Apollo, as tranfmit- 
ted to us by the poets. 

Juno incefTantly purfuing her rival, prevailed 
upon the earth to afford her no afylum. Latona 
(whofe name fignifies concealed) took refuge in 
a floating ifland in the Archipelago, called Delos, 
which was frequently covered with water. 

Neptune, out of companion to Latona, fecured 
this ifland from being overflowed, and gave it a 
permanent foundation. It was here fhe brought 
forth Apollo and Diana. The dread of Juno pre- 
vented her long refidenee on this ifland ; fhe fled 
continually from place to place. One day tra- 
veling the country of Lycia, fhe came to a marfh 
where fome peafants were working; exhaufled 
with thirft and fatigue, fhe requefted of them a 
little water; it will preferve my life, faid fhe. 
The Lycians however, inftigated by Juno, xefufed 
her this fmall relief, and even infulted her; to 
punifh their brutal inhumanity, Latona metamor- 
phofed them into frogs. We fhall not give the 
hiftory at length of Apollo and Diana; it is to be 
met with in all poetry, both ancient and modem ; 
we fhall confine ourfelves to the principal features 
and moil interefling (lories. 

k 3 Apollo 



134 HISTORY OF APOLLO. 

Apollo had feveral different names. He was 
called Delos, from the ifland Delos where he was 
born ; Phoebus, alluding to the light of the fun ; 
Phos, and Bios, fignifying light and life ^ and 
Pythius, from the victory he gained over the fer- 
pent Python. (This victory mufl be attributed 
to the fun, which by giving heat to the earth, and 
drying its ftagnated waters, deftroys venemous 
reptiles). 

He was called Aftiacus, from Actium, a pro- 
montory famous for the victory which rendered 
A U gu ft us mafler of Rome and the whole world. 
The name of Palatinus was given to him, becaufe 
Auguftus built him a temple on mount Palatine, 
to which he added a library. Apollo was banifhed 
heaven, for having with his arrows flain the Cy- 
clops who forged the thunder of Jupiter. 

The ftory is as follows : 

Efculapius, fon of Apollo, had made fuch pro- 
grefs in the fcience of medicine, under the inftruc- 
tion of his father and the centaur Chiron, that he 
had been able to reftore to life Hippolitus, fon of 
Thefeus. (We fhall give the hiftory of Hippo- 
litus in the fecond part of this work, under the 
article Heroes.) 

Jupiter, offended that a mortal fhould prefume 
to ufurp his privilege, ftruck the too fkilful phy- 
fician with a thunderbolt. 

Apollo, unable to revenge himfelf upon Jupiter 2 

wreake4 



HISTORY OF APOLLO, 135 

wreaked his vengeance upon the Cyclops, by flay- 
ing them with his arrows. No weapon was more 
dreadful than thefe arrows of Apollo - 3 it was with 
more juftice he employed them againfr the ferpenc 
Python, which Juno had raifed up againfr himfelf 
and his mother Latona. The deftruclion of this 
monfter gave rife to the Pythian Games fo famous 
in Greece. 

During the celebration of thefe games, which 
was every fourth year, they contended in fmging, 
dancing and rnufici and the reward of the victor 
was a crown of laurel. 

It is necefTary to explain the idea which the 
Greeks, and the ancients in general, entertained of 
thefe arrows of Apollo. They reprefented the 
rays of the fun, and were fuppofed to poffefs fo 
much power, that all fudden deaths were attributed, 
to them. Homer was of the fame opinion, with 
this difference, that the death of women appeared 
to him to proceed from the vengeance of Diana, 
or the moon, and that of the men, from Apollo, 
or the fun. The hiftory of the children of Niobe, 
killed by Apollo and Diana, proves what influence 
was afcribed to the fun and moon. 

The haughty Niobe, incenfed that divine ho- 
nours were paid to Latona, whilft me, though 
equally entitled to them by birth and the number 
of her offspring, was neglected, haflened to Thebes, 
and endeavoured to interrupt the facrifkes offering 
S 4 to 



.ig6 HISTORY OF APOLLO. 

to that goddefs. This infuit drew on her the 
vengeance of Apollo and Diana, who pierced her 
children with their arrows, whilft performing their 
exercifes on the plains near Thebes. 

We mall explain this ftory by comparing it with 
hiilory. Niobe, daughter of Tantalus and filter of 
Pelops, accompanied her brother, when he came 
into that part of Greece which from him was called 
Peloponnefus. She married Amphion, a prince 
celebrated for his eloquence, who had juft built 
the walls of the city of Thebes, by perfuading 
his fubjects to facrihxe fome part of their property 
to put their city in a ftate of defence. 

This fame prince being an admirer of mufic 3 
added three new firings to the four which the 
lyre already pofTeiTed. Thofe two circumftances 
were the caufe of the fable, that he had built the 
walls of Thebes by the harmony of his lyre. 

The marriage of Amphion and Niobe was 
productive of a numerous offspring; they had 
fourteen children, but were all carried off by a 
cruel peflilence which defolated the country. 

This peflilence being attributed to intenfe heat, 
which night itfeif could not allay, the ftory of 
their death which we have jufl given was invented. 

It was from the prevalence of this fame opinion 
that Homer fays, the Greeks were vifited with a 
peftiience as foon as Apollo had difcharged his 
arrows. 

When- 



HISTORY OS APOLLO, 137 

Whenever they wifhed to defcribe Apollo as 
irritated, they reprefented him armed with his 
arrows, and when appeafed, holding a lyre in his 
hand. In the time of contagious diftempers they 
placed branches of laurel before their doors, hoping 
the god would fpare thofe who rendered this ho- 
nour to his beloved nymph Daphne, whom he had 
metamorphofed into a laurel tree. 

Homer fays, that the children of Niobe remained 
unburied nine days, and were then interred by the 
gods themfelves. Hiftory fays, that thefe princes 
dying of the peftilence, it was a long time before 
anybody dared approach them. 

The Thebans, terrified for their own fafety, 
appeared infenfible to the misfortunes of their 
queen ; and this was the origin of the ftory, that 
they were changed into Hones. Yet fome among 
them, from motives of attachment, beftowed the 
rites of fepulture on them; and to foothe the 
defpair of Niobe, reported that they were buried 
by the gods. Amphion foon after died of grief, 
or of the plague, and Niobe inconfolable for her 
misfortunes, returned into Lydia, and lived at the 
foot of mount Sipylus, where forrow quickly ter- 
minated her exiftence. 

She was feigned to have been turned into a 
ftone, becaufe the excefs of her fufferings in fome 
manner rendered her infenfible, and deprived her 
of power even to utter her complaints. 

Jupiter 



I38 HISTORY OF APOLLO. 

Jupiter revenged the death of the Cyclops by 
banifhing Apollo from heaven, (that is, from the 
government he had entrufted to him.) 

He found an afylum at the court of Admetus, 
who received him favourably, and conferred on 
him the fovereignty of that part of his dominions 
fituated on the banks of the river Amphrifus. In 
thofe diftant ages, the names of paftor and king 
were frequently fynonimous. The fable defcribes 
Apollo as tending the flocks of Admetus, which 
was the caufe of his being regarded as god of the 
fhepherds. It adds, that Mercury having difco- 
vered him in this new capacity, dexteroufly ftole 
one of his cows, and Apollo feeking for his 
arrows to punim the thief, found that they like- 
wife were ftolen, 

It was during this exile that Daphne, daughter 
of the river Peneus, was metamorphofed into a 
laurel, at the moment when her feeble limbs, una- 
ble longer to continue her flight, had nearly left 
her a prey to her purfuer, Apollo. The god was 
pleafed to confecrate this tree to himfelf, and to 
appropriate a crown of its foliage to thofe who 
fhould excel in poetry and in the Pythian Games, 

Pliny, the naturalift, aflures us, that the laurel 
has the remarkable property of being never ftruck 
with thunder, A fragment of Hiftory relates 
that Daphne, daughter to a king of Theflaly, 
named Peneus, being purfued by a young prince 

upon 



HISTOPvY OF APOLLO. 139 

upon the borders of a river, called likewife Peneus, 
fell into it and was drowned ; and that the great 
quantity ' of laurels which grew on the banks of 
this river caufed it to be feu!, that fhe was meta- 
morphofed into that tree. 

It was not long after, that Apollo inadvertently 
killed the young Hyacinthus, to whom he was 
tenderly attached. Zephyrus, who likewife loved 
this youth, jealous on feeing him play at quoits with 
Apollo, with a blaft of his breath drove the quoit 
of the god with fo much violence, that it beat out 
the brains of the unhappy Hyacinthus. Apollo 
changed him into a flower, which fcears the fame 
name. His ufelefs regret for this unintentional 
murder, did not appeafe the parents of Hyacinthus. 
To avoid their implacable revenge, he fled for 
refuge to Laomedon, king of Troy, who begged 
his afiiftance in building the walls of that city. 
Here he met with Neptune, who, like himfelf, 
exiled by Jupiter, was wandering over the earth. 
The ungrateful Laomedon, aftef having received 
their fervices, refufed them their promifed reward. 
In revenge, Neptune demolifhed their work by an 
inundation, and Apollo vifited the Trojans with 
a dreadful peftilence. The oracle being confulted 
on the means of appeafing heaven, returned for 
anfwer, that a Trojan virgin, chofen by lot, muft be 
expofed annually upon the rocks to be devoured 
by a fea monfter. The firft vi&im was Hefione, 

daugther 



14© HISTORY OF APOLLO. 

daughter of Laomedon; neither the power of 
her father, nor her own beauty, were able to fave 
hers the oracle muft be obeyed: happily at this 
moment Hercules came to her affiftance and kil- 
led the monfter. The avaricious Laomedon had 
the bafenefs to refufe him two fine horfes which 
he had promifed for fo eminent a fervice ; this fo 
enrag-ed the hero, that he facrificed Laomedon to 
his refentment, fet fire to the city, and carried 
away prifoner hrs fon Priam. 

Thefe two fables being connected with the hif- 
tory of Hercules, we (hall give the explanation of 
them when we come to treat of that demi-god. 

Some time after thefe adventures, Apollo was 
permitted to return to heaven, and was reftored to 
his former condition. Jupiter confided to his care 
the chariot of the fun, and appointed him to diffufe 
light over the earth. 

Cicero diftinguifhes four of the name of Apollo ; 
the three laft were Grecian princes; the moft 
ancient of all was Orus, fon of Ofiris and Ifis. 
His mother gave him for nurfe Latona ; and to 
protect him from the perfecutions of Typhon, 
ihe concealed him in the ifland of Chemnis, fitua- 
ted upon a lake near Butes, which was the native 
city of Latona. We have already obferved that 
Ofiris, and after him . Orus his fon, were, among 
the Egyptians, fymbols of the fun. The Greeks 
almoil always confounded Ofiris with their Jupiter 5 
• - .„ « \ ' - ' ■ it 



HISTORY OF APOLLO. 141 

it is therefore by no means furprifing, that having 
given the name of Apollo to feveral of their princes, 
they mould have confounded them with the Egyp- 
tian deity of the fame name. 

.Of all the pagan deities, to none have the poeti 
^fcribed more wonderful qualities. 

He is defcribed as the inventor of poetry, mufic 
and eloquence. No divinity poflelTed a better 
knowledge of futurity; his oracles were innumer- 
able. To all thefe advantages he united beauty, 
grace, and the power of charming by his wit, 
and the harmony of his lyre. The title of God 
of Day, furpaffes any eulogium which the moft 
brilliant imagination can bellow on him. Among 
the Grecian princes who bore the name of Apollo, 
was one, who having engaged the affections of 
Clitie, a nymph of the ocean, deferted her for 
Leucothoe, daughter of Orchamus, king of Baby- 
lon ; and Clitie in delpair refufing all nourifhment 
pined to death. 

The poets obferving that the heliotrope, or fun 
flower, conftantly turned towards the fun, took 
advantage of this difcovery to feign that Clitie 
was metamorphofed into that flower 3 and that 
ftill retaining her fenfibility, ihe conftantly turned 
towards the fun to reproach his infidelity. The 
poets wifhed likewife to aflign an origin to the 
cyprefs, a leaflefs melancholy tree ; they feigned 
that the infant CyparirTus, much beloved by Apollo, 
1 * having 



14^ til STORY OF APOLLO* 

having accidentally killed a favourite flag, died of 
grief, and was changed into a cyprefs by Apollo, 
who confecrated this tree to funerals. 

No deity was more honoured than Apollo : his 
temples were innumerable both in Greece and 
Italy, and oracles were given in all of them* 
Delos attracted vifitors from every part of the 
globe, by the magnificent feltivals which were there 
celebrated in honour of this god. All the cere- 
monies of his worihip had relation to the fun, 
whom he reprefented. The hawk and the wolf 
were confecrated to him, becaufe they have a 
piercing eye ; and the crow, daw and fwan, becaufe 
they were fuppofed to have the gift of fore- 
light, and were employed in auguries. 

The fable invented concerning the crow is worth 
recounting. Its plumage was originally white, but 
was changed into black by Apollo, to punifli him, 
for having imprudently revealed to him the 
infidelity of Coronis. The tranfports of jealoufy 
are terrible, and frequently blind. Apollo de- 
flroyed this nymph and too late repented his rafh- 
nefs. He metamorphofed her into a daw, wifhing 
by her mournful plumage, and that of the crow, 
to perpetuate at once his revenge and his regret. 

There are many ancient monuments reprefent- 
ing this god, ftill extant. He is always known 
by the luminous rays round his head, his youthful 
appearance, his beauty, his lyre, and his arrows; 

generally 



HISTORY OF THE MUSES. 143 

generally he appears beardlefs. His names were 
almoft as numerous as the countries where he was 
worihipped. We have already mentioned the 
principal, but we mall conclude with that of 
Mufagetes, becaufe it leads us to the hiftory of 
the Mufes, whofe mafter and preceptor he was. 



HISTORY AND FABLE OF THE MUSES. 

rro and St. Auguftine inform us, 
that at Sicyon three able fculptors were employed 
at the fame time in forming the flatues of the 
Mufes. 

They were at that time only three in number, 
and it was intended to confecrate only the three 
flatues which mould appear moft perfect s but the 
equal talents of the artifts rendered the decifion 
fo extremely difficult, that to preferve thefe finilhed 
performances they were all nine placed in the 
temple of Apollo. From that time the poets 
celebrated nine Mufes, and we think it by no 
means neceffary to examine what their real num- 
ber originally was. The obfcurity upon this 
fubject is the greater, as the name of Mufagetes, 
or leader of the Mufes, is frequently given to 
Hercules. It is true that on thefe occafions, that 
3 hero 



144 HISTORY OF THE Mtf&ES. 

fierq appears to be confounded with the fun. Mh 
Court de Gebelin has in a very ingenious manner 
endeavoured to prove that the Mufes were twelvd 
in number ; but Hefiod and the poets reckon 1 
only nine daughters of Jupiter, and Mnemofyne, 
the goddefs of memory. They were virgins, and 
the fable fays, that a young man of the name 
of Adonis, having attempted to gain their affections* 
paid the forfeit of his life for his temerity* 

This fable is intended to reprefent how fruitlefs 
are the attempts to excel in poetry, unlefs nature 
has beftowed the neceflary talents. This pre- 
tended death of Adonis is an allegory intended to 
defcribe a man vain of his imderftanding, who 
afpired to the character of a poet, but left no 
works to furvive hitru 

It is generally believed, that the name of the 
Mufes is derived from the Greek word Myfein> 
fignifying to contemplate fublime fubjects. 

They are fometimes called Pierides* from the 
following circumftance : 

The nine daughters of Pierus, king of Macedo- 
nia, had the prefumption to contend with the 
Mufes in finging ; when to punifh their vanity, 
the victorious Mufes changed them into magpies, 
and affumed the name of Pierides, in commemo- 
ration of their triumph. 

This fpecies of challenge of the gods was always 
dangerous, and feldorn went unpunifhed. 

The 



HISTORY OF THE MUSES. 143 

The fatyr Marfyas had the temerity to aflfert, 
that the founds which he produced from his flute 
were more harmonious than thofe which Apollo 
drew from his lyre. Judges were chofen, and the 
Fatyr being vanquifhed, Apollo to punifh his pre- 
fumption, flayed him alive. 

The origin of this ftory is as follows: Before 
the invention of the lyre, the principal mufical 
inftrument was the flute. Apollo by the aftiftance 
of his lyre, found means to unite the harmony of 
an accompaniment, to the beauties of the voice, 
and thus procured that inftrument the preference 
to the flute. The poets have defcribed the jea- 
loufy and regret of Marfyas on this occafion, by- 
faying, that he was flayed alive by Apollo. An- 
cient authors do not perfectly agree concerning 
the names and fymbols of the Mufes ; we fhall 
give their general appellations, and the manner in 
which they are commonly defcribed. 

1. Clio, the firft of the Mufes, takes her name 
from glory, renown. Her province was to pre- 
fide over hiftory. She is fuppofed to be the 
inventrefs of the guittar, which inftrument me 
generally holds in her right hand, and in her left 
a pleffruniy fo called in Latin, inftead of the 'bow 
ufed in playing on that inftrument. She is like- 
wife frequently reprefented writing hiftory. 

2. Thalia prefided over comedy. Her name 

L fignifies 



146 HISTORY OF THE MUSES. 

fignifies the blooming. She is reprefented re- 
clining upon a pillar, holding a mafic in her hand. 

3. Melpomene prefided over tragedy. She is ge- 
nerally feen with her hand refring on the club of 
Hercules, bccaufe the object of tragedy is to repre- 
fent the brilliant exploits of heroes, the- moil illus- 
trious of whom was Hercules. 

4. Euterpe prefided over inflrumental mufic ; 
her name fignifies agreeable. She always appears 
furrounded with flutes, lyres, guittars, and all the 
appendages of mufic. 

5. Terpnchore, or the amufing, prefided over 
the dance ; fhe has always a fmiling countenance, 
and with one foot lightly touches the earth, whilft 
the other i ports in the air. 

6. Erato. Her name is derived from the Greek 
word EroSy love* She is the infpirer of light 
poetry, and amorous verfes 5 her changeable phi- 
fiognomy. cannot be expreffed, as it varies every 
time a new Subject prefents itfelf. 

7. Polyhymnia takes her name from the great 
variety of her fongs; fhe is reprefented with a 
lyre, as being the inventrefs of harmony ; her eyes 
directed towards heaven mow that fhe prefided 
over the ode. 

8. Urania, or the heavenly, was- the inventrefs 
of aftronomy and the fcienCes ; in her hand fhe 
holds a globe, which fometimes appears placed 

upon 




Ktn-'L sc. 



HISTORY OF THE MtfSES, 147 

upon a tripod ; and then me is feen holding a fcale 
or a compafs in her hand. 

Calliope owes her name to the majefty of her 
voice; fhe prefided over heroic poems. Near 
her are feen the trumpet of fame, crowns of laurel, 
arms^ and trophies* 

The Mufes going one day to ParnafTus to 
receive the inftruetion of their preceptor Apollo, 
were compelled by a violent mower to take fneker 
in the palace of Pireneus, king of Phocis, who 
wifhing to infult them, they afiumed wings and 
took flight. Pireneus attempting to purfue them, 
leaped from a tower and was dafhed to pieces. 

Hiftorians inform us, that Pireneus banifhed 
from his kingdom all learned men, and Ihut up the 
public fchools : a brutal caprice which procured 
him univerfal contempt; and at his death none 
were found to honour his memory. Having in 
vain endeavoured to acquire reputation by his 
poetry, he thought to revenge himfelf by perfe- 
cting the fciences ; and to fix an eternal blot upon 
his memory, the poets invented this fable. 

The Mufes are frequently reprefented furround- 
ing Apollo upon mount ParnafTus, or mount Heli- 
con. Pegafus is likewife feen with wings extended, 
railing himfelf into the air, and with a blow of his 
foot forming .the fountain Hippocrene, fo cele- 
brated among the poets. We mail refume this 
fubject in the fecond part of this work, when we 

l 2 relate 



148 HISTORY OF THE MUSES. 

relate the hiftory of Perfeus. Among the children 
of Apollo, one of the mod diftinguifhed was Linus, 
the inventor of lyric poetry. He excelled in 
teaching the lyre ; the moft famous of his fcholars 
were Orpheus, Thamyris and Hercules ; the latter, 
more formed to combat monfters than cultivate 
the polite arts, was fo irritated at being repri- 
manded by his matter Linus, that he broke his 
lyre in pieces upon his head. Many cities and 
countries were rendered famous by the oracles of 
Apollo 5 particularly Delphos, where he had a 
moft magnificent temple. The prieftefs whom 
he infpired with an enthufiaftic phrenzy was co- 
vered with the fkin of the ferpent Python, and fat 
upon a fort of table with three legs, called cortina, 
or tripod. 

That great fraud was pra&ifed in the anfwers 
of thefe oracles there is no doubt; however many 
of them were certainly verified. The fathers of the 
church are unanimoufly of opinion, that the Al- 
mighty has fometimes permitted the eternal enemy 
of mankind to forefee future events; and this opi- 
nion receives great confirmation from the many 
inftances wherein the predictions of thefe oracles 
were undoubtedly accomplifhed. If their anfwers 
had conftantly been falfified by the event, not all 
the artifice of the priefts of Apollo could have 
preferved their credit fb many ages. It muft be 
however obferved, that the anfwers given by the 

oracles 



HISTORY OF DIANA. j^g 

oracles were fo equivocal and obfcure, that they 
would admit of feveral interpretations, fo that the 
truth might fometimes concur with that which they 
had adopted. 

We mail refume the fubjeft of oracles in the 
chapter where we treat of the Sybils. 



HISTORY OF DIANA, OR THE MOON. 

Diana was the fifter of Apollo, and as 
he was called Phcebus, me was ftyled Phoebe ; both 
had the fame attributes. We have already proved 
that among the Egyptians, Ofiris was the fymbol 
of the fun, and Ifis that of the moon. To avoid 
a repetition of thefe particulars, we fhall give the 
hiftory, or rather the fable of Diana, as adopted by 
the Greeks. 

Among them, Diana was honoured under three 

different characters. Firft, as a celeftial divinity, 

and me was- then the Moon or Phoebe ; fecondly, 

as a terreftrial divinity, when me was called Didlea, 

or Dictynna, from the name of a favourite nymph, 

the firft inventrefs of nets; and laftly, as goddefs 

of the infernal regions, where fhe reigned under 

the name of Hecate, or Proferpine. 

It was to exprefs thefe different qualities, that 
■ 

ihe was ftyled the triform goddefs, 

l 3 The 



%$Q HISTORY OF DIANA. 

The Theflalian fhepherds boafted, that they 
could bringdown the moon to the earth by their 
enchantments. When it happened to be eclipfed, 
they afferted that it defcended to the earth and 
became obedient to their orders. 

Diana came into tjie world before her brother, 
and immediately (as the Fable fays) performed the 
office of midwife to her mother Latona. 

The pains me fay/ her fuffer induced her to 
demand of Jupiter the gift of virginity, and per- 
miflion to prefide over child-birth, both which 
were granted. Virgins on their marriage thought 
themfelves obliged to appeafe this goddefs, and 
confecrated to her their girdles, which procured 
her the name of Lyfizone, or ioofe-girdle. She 
was" like wife called Trivia, becaufe llie prefided 
over the highways. 

In Egypt there was another Diana, named 
Bubaftes; llie was Daughter to Ofiris and Mis, 
and like her mother received the furnarne of Diana. 
Lucina was a name common to, both this goddefs 
and juno. Pregnant women near the time of their 
delivery invoked them indifferently under this 
appellation. 

The greater part of her other names were derived 
from places where fhe was particularly honoured. 
She had two temples much celebrated; that of 
Ephefus, one of the feven wonders of the world 
(a defcription of which we .(hall give in the fecond 

part 



HISTORY OF^ DIANA. I 5 1 

part of this work, under the article Temples) was 
burnt the 6th of June, the day Alexander the Great 
was born, , 

Eroftratus the incendiary wifhed to render his 
name immortal by committing a crime which 
could never be forgotten. 

The fecond temple was fituated iri Taurica 
Cherfonefus, new called the Crimea. It was par- 
ticularly famous for the human victims offered there 
to Diana. All ftrangers, whether they landed by 
chance, or were driven on the coail by ftorms,' 
were here barbaroufly facrificed. Orefles and 
Pylades, fo diftinguifhed for their mutual friend- 
ihip, killed the Pontiff Thoas, carried off the ftatue 
of the goddefs, and brought it into Italy, where it 
was called Phazelis, becaufe they had concealed it 
in a faggot of wood. 

Upon earth Diana prefided over the chace. 

Sixty nymphs, daughters of Oceanus, and twenty 

other females, had the care of her hunting efta- 

blifhment. She is reorefented with bufkins on 

i 

her feet, and a quiver and bow in her hand. Her 
forehead is ornamented with a crefcent, and her 
car is drawn by hinds. 

Diana was regarded as the goddefs of chaffity, 
the nymphs, her attendants, were obliged to imitate 
her, and if they failed, although unintentionally, 
they were feverely punifhed. The unfortunate 
Acheon, led :by Juno the enemy of his family, inad- 

l 4 yertently 



1^2 HISTORY OF DIANA. 

vertently penetrating to a retired grotto, where 
Diana and her nymphs were bathing, was inftantly 
metamorphofed into a Stag, and devoured by his 
own dogs. 

Califto, a nymph of Arcadia, though favourite 
of the goddefs, could not efcape her vengeance. 
Jupiter, to feduce her, had affumed the form of 
Diana herfelf ; but even this excufe did not protect 
her; fhe was driven from her fociety, and aban- 
donedto the jealoufy of Juno, who metamorphofed 
her into a bear. Obliged to conceal herfelf in the 
deepeft recefles of the foreft, Ihe could not always 
efcape the purfuit of the hunter ; Areas, her own 
fon, arrived at that age when fo many charms are 
found in the chafe, by accident met his mother; 
Califto difcovering in him all the features of Ju- 
piter, which were ftill imprinted upon her mind, no 
longer thought of flying; flie anxioufly fixed her 
eyes on the young prince, who was preparing to 
pierce her with a dart, when Jupiter to prevent fo 
horrible a crime, metamorphofed him like wife into 
a bear, and translated them both to heaven. 

Such is the fable invented by the poets concern- 
ing the conftellation compofed of feven ftars; 
which is now called the Greater Bear. 

The liar called Bootes which follows it repre- 
fents the fon of Califto. 

Near the Arctic pole is feen the Leffer Bear, 
known to aftronomers by the name of Cynofura ; 

it 



HISTORY OF DIANA 1^ 

it is the guide of mariners. The ftars of which 
this is compofed reprefent the nymphs who had 
the care of Jupiter in his infancy. 

Diana, equally proud as Juno., would fufFer 
none to be compared with her. 

Dedalion fon of the morning ftar, called Lucifer, 
was changed into a hawk from the folio wing cir- 
cumftance. Chione his daughter, being rafti 
enough to prefer her own beauty to that of Diana, 
was killed by an arrow from thatgoddefs. 

Dedalion, difconfolate for the lofs of his daugh- 
ter, precipitated himfelf from the top of a tower, 
when Apollo, out of companion, transformed him 
into an hawk. 

There is a ftory that Diana becoming enamoured 
of Endymion, king of Elis, every night defcended 
from her car to vifit him upon the mountains of 
Caria. This fiction fo injurious to Diana is founded 
folely upon the paffion of Endymion for aftronomy, 
and the attention which he bellowed on the courfe 
of the moon. 

This prince was fond of retiring to a grotto in 
Latmos, one of the mountains of Caria, where 
he frequently paffed whole nights ; which occafioned 
the ftory of his being vifited by Diana. 

His conflant application to ftudy, and his in- 
difference to pleafure, caufed it like wife to be faid, 
that he had obtained from Jupiter the gift of per- 
petual fleep. There is ftill to be feen in mount 

Latmos 



1^4 HISTORY QF DIANA. 

Latmos a fort of cavern, which is yet called the 
grotto of Endymion. 

The chariot of the fun was of gold, and that of 
the moon filver. 

The tranquil progrefs of the latter was defcribed 
by faying, that fhe filently advanced amid the 
jfhades of Night ; who was a particular divinity, 
faid to be the daughter of Chaos. She paffed for 
the moft ancient of all the goddelTes, to exprefs 
that darknefs exified before light. She is repre- 
fented in a chariot of ebony, covered with a large 
black veil, and furrounded with ftars. In her hand 
fhe holds a flambeau, which me appears to be in 
the act of extinguifliing. 

The poets attribute to her a number of chil- 
dren, but they were all metaphorical, fuch as 
Pain, Fear, Love, Envy, Age, &c. &e. 

We mall fpeak of all thefe divinities under an- 
other article ; at prefent their hiftory would give 
too much interruption to that of the principal 
deities. 

The name of Hecate was given to Diana ; 
this is derived from a Greek word, which fignifies 
to ftrike at a difcance j by this furname was meant 
the rapidity with which her rays pafs from heaven 
to earth. 

Thefe rays, like thofe of Apollo, were called 
Arrows, and the influence of both was equally* 

dreaded. 

The 



HISTORY OF DIANA. 155 

The names of Phoebus and Phoebe, which 
were given to Apollo and Diana, on account 
of the light they diffufed over the earth, had 
an origin which it will be of fervice to know j 
they are derived from the mother cf Latona, 
whofe name was likewife Phcebe ignorance of 
her birth caufed this perfonage to be regarded 
as the offspring of the earth. 

This primary Phcebe derived her greateft ce- 
lebrity from an oracle fituated at the foot of Par- 
narTus, yielded to her by her mother the Earth. 

Apollo and Diana at first divided this fpecies of 
inheritance, but not long after Apollo only was 
confulted there. 

This being the oracle of Belphos, it is necef- 
fary to be acquainted with its origin. 

Diodorus Siculus fays, that it was Qrft difco- 
vered by means of goats feeding in the valleys of 
mount ParnafTus. 

In one of thefe valleys was to be feen a narrow 
opening; fome goats approaching to browfe the 
herbs which grew around, experienced a fort- of 
intoxication, which made them leap about in an 
extraordinary manner. The fhepherd who was 
tending them, furprifed at this effecT, went to take 
a nearer furvey of this cleft, when the air which 
proceeded from it occafioncd him a kind of deli- 
rium, which he looked upon as divine inspiration. 
The report of this miracle drew together the 
3 neighbouring 



HISTORY Of DIANA* 



neighbouring inhabitants. The experiment re- 
peated a thoufand times conftantly produced the 
fame effect. Surprifed at a prodigy which their 
knowledge at that time did not enable them to 
account for upon natural principles, they fuppo- 
fed fome propitious divinity, or the earth itfelf, 
difpenfed oracles through this aperture, and gave 
thofe who approached it the power of predicting 
futurity. From that time this place was regarded 
as facred. A fort of fan&uary was eftablifhed 
there which could not be approached without 
rich offerings to the divinity they wifhed to con- 
fult. This fancluary was in time enclofed in a 
magnificent temple, and the afflux of thofe 
who reforted here fo increafed the number of ha- 
bitations, that they were considerable enough to 
form the city of Delphos. 

This famous aperture was fituated about the 
middle of Parnaffus, a mountain of Phocis, on the 
fouthern defcent. 

The temple and city of Delphos acquired fuch 
immenfe riches, that they were compared to thofe 
of the kings of Perfia. 

Before we conclude this work we mall treat 
more fully the interefting fubjecl; of oracles. 



HISTORY 



HISTORY OF BACCHUS, 



HISTORY OF BACCHUS, 

The pride and ambition of the Greeks 
led them to believe their own country the birth- 
place of all the gods and heroes. Never was a 
people more defirous of appearing illuftricus. 

The conquefts of Bacchus had rendered his 
name too famous not to attribute to him a Gre- 
cian origin. However, Herodotus, Plutarch,and 
Diodorus Siculus, (who faithfully executed the 
office of hiftorians,) inform us, that he was born 
in Egypt, and brought up in Nyfa, a city of 
Arabia the Happy, where he had been fent by his 
father Ammon. We even perceive by them, 
that the Bacchus of the Greeks was no other 
than the famous Ofiris, conqueror of India. The 
fictions of the poets, and the accounts of an- 
cient authors, can only be applied to this King of 
Egypt. Speaking of Bacchus, they firft fay that 
he came to the affiftance of Jupiter in his war 
againft the giants ; and afterwards, that he was 
the fon of Semele, and grandfon of Cadmus. Now 
this lad mentioned prince did not exift till many 
ages after the above war. The fable adds, that 
Bacchus clothed in the Ikin of a tiger, rendered 
i great 



1.5$ HISTORY OF BACCHUS. 

great fervice to Jupiter 5 but was torn in pieces by 
the giants. 

This latter circumftance undoubtedly alludes to 
the death of Ofiris, who*was killed by his inhu- 
man brother Typhon. Diodorus- explains this con- 
tradiction by faying, that the worfhip of this divinity 
was brought from Egypt into Greece by Orpheus, 
who being favourably received by Cadmus, wifhed 
to exprefs his gratitude by attributing to one of 
that prince's family the hiftory and fable of the 
Egyptian Bacchus — and, indeed, the worfhip which 
was paid to this god, and that which was paid 
to Oiiris, perfectly refembled each other. 

This comparifon ferves Hill more to prove 
that the Greeks were indebted to the eaftern colo- 
nies, not only for their divinities, but even the 
major part of their names. 

Diodorus Siculus reckons three of the name of* 
Bacchus Cicero five - } and the moderns are ftill 
more divided, as to their number and origin. 

Many learned men are of opinion, that the 
Bacchus of the poets is no other than Mofes.- — 
They find fo great a refembiance between 
them, that we think it necefiary to give their 
reafons for imagining them the fame, without pre- 
tending however to offer any thing pofitive upon , 
the fubjecl. Both are reprefented as having been 
born in Egypt, and expoied upon the Nile. 

The 



HISTORY OF BACCI-iUS. igA 

The name of Mofes, and that of My fas, given 
to Bacchus by Orpheus, both exprefs that they 
were faved from the water. 

Bacchus was brought up in Arabia, on a 
mountain called Nyfa; it was in this fame coun- 
try that Mofes palled forty years. 

Bacchus, when cruelly perfecuted, retired to 
the borders of the Red-Sea ; Mofes, to deliver 
the Hebrew people from the oppreftion of the 
Egyptians, crofTed the Red-Sea. 

The numerous army of Bacchus, compofed of 
men and women, pafTed through Arabia in their 
way to the conquer! of India. The army of the 
jewifh legiflator, compofed of men, women, and 
children, were obliged long to wander in the 
de-fart, before they arrived in Palefline, which, 
as well as India, belongs to the continent of Afia. 

The fable frequently represents Bacchus with 
horns ; which may be fuppofed to allude to the 
two rays of light which fhone on the forehead of 
Mofes. 

Bacchus was brought up on Mount Nifa ; Mofes 
received the tables of the law on Mount Sina. 
By the tranfpofition of a fingle letter thefe two 
names become exactly alike. 

Bacchus, armed with his thyrfis, defeated the 
giants ; Mofes fought the giants defcended from 
Enoch, and a rod is^the inflrument of his 'miracles - * 
Jupiter fent Iris to order Bacchus into India to de- 
ft roy 



iSq HISTORY OF BACCHUS. 

ftroy a finful nation ; God commanded Mofes into 
Paleftine to exterminate an idolatrous nation. 

The god Pan gave Bacchus z i dog to accom- 
pany him in his travels ; Caleb, which in the He- 
brew figniftes a dog, was the faithful companion 
of Mofes. 

Bacchus, by finking the earth with his thyrfis, 
produced rivers of wine. Mofes, by ftriking the 
rock with his miraculous rod, caufed fountains of 
water to gufh from it. 

This parallel agrees too perfectly not to induce 
us to believe, that the fable of Bacchus is a dif- 
figured tradition of the hiftory of Mofes. Again, 
there are fome who endeavour to prove, that Bac- 
chus is the fame as Nimrod, the fon of Chus, 
which procured him at firft the name of Bar- 
Chus, fon of Chus, and by corruption Bacchus. 
Others on the contrary think, that Bacchus is the 
fame as Noah, to whom facred hiftory attributes 
the firft cultivation of the vine. 

However it be, we may conclude from thefe 
comparifons, that the Jewifh legiflator, having 
been much celebrated in Egypt, they have bor- 
rowed many of the principal features of his life to 
embellifti the hiftory of Bacchus, or rather Ofiris, 
who appears to have been the real Bacchus. 

We learn from hiftory, that the worfhip of this 
divinity v/as introduced into Greece by Cadmus. 
Semele, daughter to that prince, having a fon 

named 



FABLE OF BACCHUS. 



named Bacchus, who performed fome actions and 
exploits in fome refpect fimilar to thofe of the 
Egyptian Bacchus, Was afterwards confounded 
with that God, and in compliment to his grand- 
father, Cadmus, received the fame honours* 



FABLE OF BACCHUS, 

It is not fufficient to know the hiftori- 
cal comparifon between Mofes and Bacchus y we 
ihall give the ftory of his birth as we find it in 
the Grecian poets. 

He was the fon of Jupiter and Semele, daugh- 
ter of Cadmus. This princefs dwelt in the city 
of Thebes. Juno becoming jealous of Semele 
aflumed the form of Beroe her rival's nurfe, and 
advifed her to requeft of Jupiter, that he would 
appear to her armed with his thunder, and in 
all the majefty with which he was inverted when 
he appeared to Juno. The unfufpecling Semele 
accordingly informed Jupiter, that fhe had a 
favour to demand, and made him fwear by the 
river Styx not to refufe her : he pronounced the 
oath, and notwithftanding the fatal confequences 
which he knew would attend it was obliged to 
comply, 

M The 



l6g FABLE OF BACCHUS, 

The unhappy Semele could not fupport fo 
glorious a fight, her palace was confumed by the 
rays of light which furrounded him, and me her- 
felf perifhed in the flames. 

However, Jupiter willing to fave the infant with 
which flie was pregnant, enclofed it in his thigh, 
where it remained till the appointed time of its 
birth. — This ridiculous ftory afterwards pro- 
cured Bacchus the furname of Bimater, which 
lignifies having two mothers. 

In tracing the origin of this extraordinary ftory 
concerning the birth of Bacchus, we find, that 
Semele was fo fcorched by the fire which con- 
fumed her palace that fife expired, but that the 
child with which me was pregnant was preferved. 
Immediately on its birth, Jupiter fent Mercury 
with it to Nyfa, * a city near a mountain called 
Meros, which word fignifies thigh. This is the 
only foundation of the above fable. At the in- 
treaty of Mercury, the daughters of Atlas took 
charge of the infant Bacchus. Silenus undertook 
the care of his education, and conceived fuch an 
attachment for him, that he would never after- 
wards leave him, but accompanied him in all his 
conqucfts. 

As we mail refume the hiftory of Silenus in its 
v. roper place, we mall content ourfelves at pre- 
irh obferving, that in fable he is defcribed 
the god of wine - 3 becaufe he is fuppofed firft 

to 



FABLE OF BACCHUS. 163 

to have cultivated the vine. Bacchus, out of gra- 
titude to the daughters of Atlas, changed them 
into the ftars called Hyades; from the word 
Hyie, one of his furnames. He is generally re- 
prefented under the figure of a young man with a 
ruddy frefh complexion, to exprefs the joy which 
wine infpires even in old age. In his hand he car- 
ries a thyrfis, which is a fort of wand furrounded 
with vine leaves and ivy : the latter plant being 
cool and refrefhing, was fuppofed to have the 
power of difpelling the fumes of wine, and pre- 
venting it from intoxicating the brain : It is for 
this reafon that Bacchus almoft always appears 
crowned with ivy and vine branches. 

He is frequently feen fitting in a chariot drawn 
by panthers and tygers. By this equipage we muft 
underftand, that excefs of wine deprives man of 
his reafon, renders him furious and frequently 
cruel. The victims facrificed to Bacchus were 
generally either a magpie or a goat. The former 
to mow that wine renders a man incautious in his 
converfation ; and the latter becaufe the goat 
browfes on the vine buds. 

The feafts of this god were celebrated with 
great diforder by prieftefTes named Bacchantes, or 
Baffarydes, or Thyades, and frequently Menades, 
who ran up and down the mountains clad in the 
Ikins of tigers. When they invoked the god 
their hair was difhevelled, and in their hands they 
m % held 



164 FABLE OF BACCHUS. 

held thyrfes and torches. Thefe feafts were called 
Bacchanalia, and Dionyfia, from the furname of 
Bacchus, or Triterica, becaufe they were cele- 
brated every third year. They likewife gave them 
the name of Orgia, which fignifies fury. During 
another feaft, named Afchofia, they amufed 
themfelves with jumping upon bladders filled with 
air, and thofe who fell afforded fport to the 
others. 

Nothing was more terrible than the vengeance 
of Bacchus, or his worfhippers, when any pre- 
fumed to difturb their rites, or oppofe his 
divinity. 

Pentheus, fon of Echion and Agave, wifhing 
to prevent the Thebans his fubjecls from cele- 
brating thefe feafts ; the god infpired his mother 
Agave with fo blind a fury, that inviting the 
Bacchantes to follow her, me with her own hands 
tore in pieces her unhappy fon. This dreadful 
example had no influence on the Mineides. 

One day, during the celebration of thefe feafts, 
out of contempt, they employed themfelves openly 
in working tapeftry, but were changed into bats, 
and their work into ivy leaves by the offended deity. 

Lycurgus, (who muft not be confounded with 
the Spartan law-giver of that name,) wifhed to 
deftroy all the vines in Thrace, and began demo- 
liming them with a fey the 5 an unhappy ftroke, 
however, happening to fall upon his leg, the peo- 

pie, 



FABLE OF BACCHUS. 165 

pie, who witneffed the circumftance, regarded it 
as a punilliment for the infult offered to the god of 
wine. 

Bacchus, having collected an immenfe army, 
confiding both of men and women, fet out for the 
conqueft of India. Inftead of fpears and Ihields, 
his troops were armed with drums and thyrfes. 
This riotous troop fpread univerfal confirmation, 
but the intention of Bacchus being only to teach 
the cultivation of the vine to the conquered 
nations, he was every where received as a benig- 
nant deity. 

He carried his conquefts, or rather his travels 
and feafts, into the countries fituated beyond the 
Mediterranean, as Arcadia and Syria $ but he 
never penetrated into thofe immenfe provinces 
which extend as far as the Ganges, and are now 
called the Eaft-Indies. 

It was on his return from this expedition that 
he efpoufed Ariadne, daughter of Minos, king of 
Crete. 

He prefented her with a crown of gold, en- 
riched with diamonds, moll curioufly executed by 
Vulcan. — This crown, after the death of Ariadne, 
was placed among the conftellations, or rather its 
name was given to an affemblage of eight ftars, 
three of which are extremely brilliant. 

Alexander the Great, in his conqueft of India, 
propofed Bacchus as his model, and during fix 
M 3 days 



i66 



FABLE OF BACCHUS. 



days his foldiers celebrated the feafts of that god 
with all the excefles of intoxication. 

Among the moft celebrated monuments of 
Bacchus which remain, the moft beautiful are 
thofe which reprefent his marriage with Ariadne, 
whom the perfidious Thefeus had abandoned on 
the ifland of Naxos. Particularly there is extant 
a (lone of ineftimable value upon which this cere- 
mony is engraved ; it is called the feal of Michael 
Angelo, and belonged to the King of France. 
A caduceus is frequently placed near Bacchus to 
mow that he preferred peace to war. 

Among the different names given to Bacchus 
we muft remark that of Nydtilius ; he was fo 
called becaufe his orgies were celebrated in the 
night by the light of torches and flambeaus. — 
The name of Dionyfius is derived from Dios, 
God, and Nyfa the city where Jiew as brought up. 
He is likewife ftiled Evan and Hyie, fignifying 
Courage, Son words which were frequently re- 
peated by Jupiter whilft Bacchus was engaged in 
combat with the giants. — It is likewife thought 
that the name of Bacchus may be derived from 
Bacchein, to howl, on account of the cries of the 
Bacchantes. 



HISTORY 



HISTORY OF MINERVA. 



167 



HISTORY OF MINERVA. 

By the Greeks and Romans Minerva 
was regarded as the nobleft production of Jupiter; 
but long before me was known to them, the 
Egyptians acknowledged her as a divinity. 

Of the five goddeffes of this name mentioned 
by Cicero, he fays, that the mod ancient fprung 
from the Nile, and was held in great veneration 
by the Egyptians. The fecond was daughter of 
Saturn and goddefs of war - } the third, daughter of 
Jupiter 3 the fourth was of Athens, and daughter 
of Vulcan ; the fifth and laft, was daughter of the 
Giant Pallas, and is called indifferently Pallas or 
Minerva. 

The flories of thefe different eroddeffes being 
generally confounded together, we fhall relate the 
principal one preferved by Mythology. 

Jupiter, after the war with the Titans, feeing 
himfelf, with the confent of all the gods, abfolute 
fove reign of heaven and earth, efpoufed Metis, 
fuppofed to be the wifeft being in the univerfe ; 
(this name is allegorical, and we have already 
mentioned that it iignifies Providence.) Being 
informed by Ccelus that from her would fhortly 
proceed a daughter of consummate wifdom, and 
a fon deftined by the Fates to the empire of the 
world, he devoured her fometirne after, feeling 
a dreadful pain in his head., he applied to Vulcan, 
m 4 who, 



l6S HISTORY OF MINERVA. 

who, with the blow of an axe, divided his head, 
from whence fprung Minerva completely armed, 
and already of fufficient fize to render Jupiter 
effential afliftance in his war with the giants. 

The fiction, concerning the birth of Minerva, 
has always appeared myfierious ; and the infcrip- 
tion on her temple at Sais, in Egypt, ftill adds to 
the obfcurity - 9 it was conceived in thefe terms : 

I am what is, what was, and what mall be; 
None could ever raife the veil that covers me ; 
and if you would know my works, it is I who made the fun. 

The moft famous of the learned think this 
myfierious infcription to have been taken from the 
book of Mofes ; where Eternal Wifdom, fpeaking 
of itfelf, fays — 

I proceeded from the head of the Moft High 
before the exiftence of any thing created. 

This opinion is the more probable, as the inha- 
bitants of Sais were ignorant of the time when the 
worfhip of Minerva began. There is every reafon 
to believe that it reached up to the laft Patriarchs. 
It had already exifted a long time when Cecrops, 
originally of Sais, quitted that city, and led a. 
colony into Greece, where he foon introduced the 
manners and religion of his country. 

This Prince had a daughter whom he named 
Athene, to place her under the immediate protec- 
tion of Minerva. 

The great reputation of Cecrops caufed this 

daughter 



HISTORY OF MINERVA. \6g 

daughter to be afterwards confounded with the 
goddefs whofe name me bore. 

Minerva, Athene and Pallas, were the fame 
divinity among the Greeks. Confidered as Mi- 
nerva, (he pre fided over wifdom: as Athene, Ihe 
was the tutelar divinity of Athens : as Pallas, me 
prefided over war. On account of this laft func- 
tion, me was frequently confounded with Bellona; 
a different divinity, of whom we mall fpeak at the 
conclufion of this article. 

The inhabitants of the ifland of Rhodes were 
much diftinguimed for the worlhip they at firft 
rendered Minerva; but when they adopted the 
Sun as their principal and greater! divinity, the 
veneration for Minerva declined. The Athenians, 
in hopes of procuring the particular favour of this 
goddefs, declared her the protedlrefs of their city, 
and built a magnificent temple, where me was 
honoured under the name of Parthenos ; that is, 
virgin. 

Phidias, the mod celebrated and ingenious fculp- 
tor of his age, adorned this temple with a ftatue of 
gold and ivory 3 which his genius rendered worthy 
of the goddefs it reprefented. 

The Athenians, to add ftill more folemnity to 
the worlhip of Minerva, celebrated in honour of 
her the magnificent feafts called Athenas. They 
were inftituted by Eridthonius, third king of 
Athens. Thefe feafts were afterwards called Pana- 

thenar, 



tjO HISTORY OF MINERVA 

thenae ; when Thefeus had united the twelve vil- 
lages of Attica to form the fingle city of Athens 
thefe feafts were divided into the greater and 
the lefs ; the former were celebrated every fifth 
year, the latter annually - 9 and it was during this 
celebration that the verfes of Homer, named rhap- 
fodies, ufed to be fung. 

The fable fays, that the honour of giving 
name to the city of Athens, which at firft was 
called after its founder Cecrops, produced a 
violent difpute between Neptune and Minerva. 

The twelve principal deities being chofen arbi- 
ters of this difference, determined that they who 
Ihould produce the moil ufeful gift for the city 
fhould honour it with their name. 

Neptune immediately with a blow of his trident, 
produced from the earth a noble fteed, the fym- 
fool of heroic courage. Minerva produced a 
blooming olive tree, the fymbol of peace. The 
deities decided in favour of the latter, who gave 
her own name, Athene, to the city. 

Hiftory has preferved the explanation of this 
fable. It fays, that Cecrops, originally of Sais, 
having led an Egyptian colony into Attica, re- 
formed the barbarous cuftoms of the natives, 
inftru&ed them in agriculture, and taught them 
to plant the olive which was found very congenial 
to the foil. 

He brought them to adopt the worfhip of 
i Minerva^ 



HISTORY OF MINERVA. lyi 

Minerva, to whom this tree was particularly con- 
fecrated, and the city then took the name of its 
tutelar divinity. Athens became famous for the 
excellence of its oils ; its commerce being by this 
means greatly increafed, rendered the cultivation 
of the olive extremely valuable, and the necefllty 
of infuring fafety to foreign veffels reformed the 
natural inclination of the Athenians to piracy. To 
defcribe and commemorate the origin of this reform, 
the fable of Neptune being furpaffed by Minerva 
was invented. 

Some hiftorians fay, on the contrary, that this 
ftory alludes to a difference which took place 
between the failors who acknowledged Neptune as 
their divinity, and the people and fenate, who 
were under the protection of Minerva. The 
Areopagus was appointed to determine this difpute, 
and decided that agriculture, and a rural life, were 
preferable to the profeflion of pirates : it enacted 
wife and falutary laws to infure the liberty of 
commerce ; and to commemorate this decifion, 
they pretended that Neptune had been excelled by 
Minerva, and that the twelve principal deities 
themfelves had given judgment in her favour. 

Arachne, a maid much celebrated for her flcill 
in works of tapeftry, prefumed to fay, that Ihe 
would not yield even to Minerva herfelf. She 
difplayed her works, and defied the goddefs to a 
comparifon. Minerva enraged, tore in pieces the 

webs 



172 HISTORY OF MINERVA. 

webs of Arachne, and ftruck her with her ihuttle. 
Unable to fupport fo mortifying an affront, me 
determined to put an end to her exiftence with 
a cord, but was changed by Minerva into a fpider. 

This fable is an allegory, intended to mow, that 
prefumptuous pride feldom goes unpunimed. Yet 
it may probably have its origin from the word 
Araky which fignifies equally to fpin, and the web 
of a fpider. We find many allegorical fables 
intermixed with the hiflory of Minerva 3 among 
them may be clalfed that of Tirefias, which relates, 
that having one day furprifed Minerva bathing, 
he was inftantly deprived of fight, but obtained 
the gift of prophecy through the interceffion of 
his mother. The meaning of this fable is, that 
the truly wife confider of very little importance 
the ordinary events of life, and, wholly attentive to 
the dictates of wifdom, learn by prefent experience 
to provide againft future evils. 

Pallas was not the only furname given to Mi- 
nerva , me was called Parthenia, from being a 
virgin ; Csefia, for having blue eyes ; and Tritonia, 
from the lake Triton ; to which, according to fome 
accounts, fhe was indebted for her origin. 

The word Trito, fignifies likewife brains and as 
fhe proceeded from the brain of Jupiter, it is to 
that probably we mould afcribe the name Tritonia, 
Sometimes fhe is called Hippia, fignifying female 
equeftrian. 

The 



HISTORY OF MINERVA. 173 

The feafts of Minerva, called Quinquatria, were 
celebrated at Rome in the month of April. 

During their continuance, pupils were obliged 
to carry prefents to their mailers. The two- 
fold object of this was, to habituate them to 
fentiments of gratitude, and to teach them, that 
no pleafure is equal to that experienced by a gene- 
rous heart in difcharging a duty, or conferring an 
obligation. 

Thefe prefents were called minervalia, or gifts 
offered to wifdom, in order to enhance their value, 
and to remind the mafter, that wifdom ought con- 
ftantly to direct his endeavours for the inftruction 
of youth. 

At that time no act of liberality was performed 
without invoking the Graces as they were fup- 
pofed to prefide overacts of kindnefsj to give, 
alone, was not fufficient. There exifted among the 
Greeks and Romans pictures, or pieces of fculp- 
ture, in which the real Graces were reprefented 
driving from the temple the idle, or fictitious 
(traces. We think it quite unneceffary to explain 
thefe allegories. 

Several inventions were attributed to Minerva, 
that of the polite arts, the ufe of oil, the art of fpin- 
ning, and ornamental tapeftry. 

Thefe pretended inventions were merely alle- 
gorical. Arts and fciences are the real riches of 
the mind, and worthy, of the patronage of wifdom. 

.1 Oil 



174 HISTORY OF MINERVA. 

Oil mows, that to acquire knowledge we muft 
frequently confecrate our nights to ftudy. 

The art of fpinning reprefents the patience and 
perfeverance neceffary in profecuting our works % 
and by the ornaments of tapeftry we are mown, 
that it mould be our ftudy to embellifh thern. 

Minerva is faid to have proceeded from the 
head of Jupiter, to exprefs, that wifdom is not of 
human invention, but of divine origin. She is 
reprefented coming into the world armed becaufe 
the wife fupported by a clear confcience, and un- 
fpotted virtue, are able to combat vice, and remain 
firm under misfortune. She is defcribed as a vir- 
gin, becaufe wifdom cannot unite with corruption, 
or earthly pleafure. She has no external orna- 
ments, and is of a ftern countenance, becaufe fhe 
needs no borrowed decorations; fhe mines with 
equal luftre when clothed in the ruffet gown, or 
invefted with royal purple. Her afpeci, always 
noble, infpires equal love and refpect, whether under 
the wrinkles of old age, or the charms and bloom 
of youth. She is frequently reprefented holding 
a diftaff, and preparing to fpin, intended to teach 
us, that we fhould avoid idlenefs, and, to all others, 
prefer thofe employments which are moft ufeful. 
Bellona prefided over fanguinary wars j it was over 
the war againft vice that Minerva prefided. On 
her head fhe wears a helmet, having on the top of 
it an owl. In one hand fhe holds a lance, and in 

the 



BELLONA, \y§ 

the other the egis, (a fort of Ihield, coveted with, 
the fkin of a ferpent flain by herfelf, and having 
in the middle a reprefentation of the head of 
Medufa one of the Gorgons.) 

This fhield and armour were ufed by the god* 
defs to ftrike terror into the guilty. 

The owl perched upon the helmet was to ex- 
prefs, that wifdom frequently delights to meditate 
in the folemn filence and tranquillity of night. 

EELLONA. 

This goddefs was by the Greeks called 
Enyo, and yet they frequently confounded her with 
Pallas. She was daughter of Phorcis and Ceto, 
and filler of Mars. Among the ancients her moll 
common appellation was Duellona. 

She is defcribed by the poets as a warlike divi- 
nity, who prepared the horfes and chariot of Mars 
when he departed for battle. 

She is likewife reprefented with difhevelled hair, 
holding a torch in her hand. 

Bellona had a temple at Rome, near the Car- 
mental gate. 

It was in this temple the fenate gave audience 
to ambafTadors, who, as well as generals returning 
from war, were not permitted to enter the city. 

At the gate of this temple was a little pillar, 

againtt 



IjS HISTORY OF MARS AND VICTORY. 

againft which a ftone was thrown on a declaration 
of war. 

Bellona was clafled among the common divi- 
nities in rank (he was equal to the god Mars. 
Her priefts were inftalled into their office by ma- 
king incifions in the thigh, and offering as a facri- 
fice to the goddefs the blood which flowed from 
the wound; but this cruelty was only pretended. 
The worfhip of Bellona, though famous at Rome, 
was ftill more fo in two considerable cities par- 
ticularly confecrated to that goddefs j both called 
Comana. 

In ancient monuments, Bellona is feen armed 
with a pike and fhield, but it is extremely difficult 
to diftinguifh her from Minerva. 

HISTORY OF MARS AND VICTORY. 

The god Mars, whom the Greeks called 
Ares, was the fon of Jupiter and Juno. The fable 
of his birth, which we have already given in the 
hiftory of Juno, was invented folely by the Latin 
poets. To the Greeks, and more ancient nations 
it was entirely unknown. 

The recent invention of this fable ferves to prove 
that it was an allegory of the Latins, to defcribe the 
jealoufy of Juno at feeing the manner in which 
Jupiter had produced wifdom. 

Juno 



HISTORY OF MARS AND VICTORY. I77 

Juno - entrufted the education of Mars to 
Priapus one of the Titans, or Daftyli Idsei. This 
fkilful preceptor obferving the promifing talents 
of his young pupil, inured him to bodily exercifes 
and the ufe of arms. He trained him for the 
office of a great commander, and taught him that 
by acquiring glory, he might afpire to the rank of 
the moil illuflrious divinities, and foar above thofe 
inferior gods among whom, by birth, he was placed. 
It was out of gratitude, and in acknowledgement 
for the care and fuccefs of Priapus, that he received 
the tenth of the fpoils confecrated to the god Mars. 

There were many princes of this name, and in 
the fequel alrnofl every people had their Mars ; but 
we mall mention only the principal of them. 

Diodorus fays that the original Mars, to whom 
is afcribed the invention of arms, and the art of 
ranging troops in order of battle, was Belus called 
in fcripture Nimrod and mentioned as a mighty 
hunter before the Lord. 

He firft exercifed his powers againfr. wild beafts, 
but afterwards employed them in reducing man- 
kind to fubje&ion. 

Glory and power always excite our furprife, 
Nimrod was at firft feared and admired, but the 
people foon perceived how capable he was of 
protecting and defending them. The execution 
of his orders infured fuccefs, and fecured the fafety 
of all; they faw the advantage of inverting the fu- 

N pre me 



Ij8 HISTORY OF MARS AND VICTORY, 

. ft 

preme power in one \ beftowed on him the crown* 
and the defendants of thefe fame people created 
him a divinity. 

The learned Hyginus informs us, that the name 
Belus was given to this king of Babylon, becaufe 
he was the firft who hunted wild beads. 

The fecond Mars was an ancient king of Egypt. 
The third, a Thracian monarch called Odin. He 
became fo diftinguiihed for his power, courage, 
and conquefls, that he was by this people (the moil 
warlike in the world) ftyled the god of war. The 
fame Odin was frequently called Hyperborean Mars. 

The fourth god of that name, was he whom 
the Greeks furnamed Ares j and the fifth, v/as the 
Mars of the Latins, fuppofed to be the father of 
Romulus and Remus. 

The Gauls had like wife their Mars whom they 
called Hefus. They facrificed human victims to 
him. The Scythians, with their ufual fimplicitVj, 
adored the god of war under the form of a fword ; 
and the Ferfians, when they deified the famous 
Nimrodj gave him the name of Orion, and re- 
garded him as the god of battle. The Greeks, al- 
ways defirous of embellifhing the hiftory of their 
gods, attributed to their Mars the exploits of all 
thofe we have juft mentioned. 

The celebrated tribunal called the Areopagus 
was inftituted to decide a difference which had 
arifen between Mars, or Ares, and Neptune. 

The 



HISTORY OF MARS AND VICTORY. ljg 

The former refilling to confent to the marriage of 
his daughter Alcippe with Allirotius, fon of Nep* 
tune, that rafh youth, liftening only to the dictates 
of his paffion, had the temerity to carry her off. But 
he could not efcape the god of war, and his life 
was the forfeit of his bold attempt. 

Neptune in defpair for the lofs of his fon cited 
Mars to appear before the judges. The graveft 
Athenians being afTembled to determine this affair, 
declared Mars innocent, and acquitted him after 
the ufual manner. 

The Court of Juftice being fituated on an emi- 
nence, was called Areopagus, from Ares, and 
Pagos, the rock of Mars. The eftablifhment of 
this tribunal, fo refpected for the equity of its de~ 
cifions, according to the Arundelian marble, Inould 
be placed 1560 years before the Chriftian era, under 
the reign of Cranaus. This ftory received the em- 
bellifhments of poetical invention. The noble 
limplicityof hiftory was abandoned for the brilliant 
ornaments of poetry. It was pretended that Mars 
had been pronounced innocent by the twelve 
principal deities, becaufe the judges, who amounted 
to that number, were chofen from the moft 
illuftrious families of Athens. 

The names given to the god Mars had different 
fignihxations. Ares fignifies injury, and repre- 
fents the miferies attendant on war ; or probably 
rnay be derived from the Hebrew word Arits, 

n % . ftrong 



j8o HISTORY OF MARS AND VICTORY. 

ftrong and terrible. The Latins called him Gra~ 
divus, in peace, and Quirinus, in war. 

Romulus, whom the Romans regarded as the 
fon of Mars, when honoured as a divinity, re- 
ceived the name of Quirinus. 

When Mars was invoked to protect the culti- 
vated lands from the ravages of war, he was called 
Silvefler, and father. The Greeks, to paint him cruel 
and terrible, named him Corythaix, which fignifies 
making his helmet. He is generally reprefented 
in a chariot guided by Bellona; his horfes, the 
offspring of Boreas and Erynnis, were called Terror 
and Fear ; on his breaft-plate are the ; figures of 
feveral monfters: The poets add, that Fury and 
Indignation fat perched upon his helmet, and that - 
Fame always announced his approach. 

Mars had feveral temples at Rome. Auguftus, 
after the battle of Philippi, erected a moll magni- 
ficent one in honour of him, under the name of 
Mars the Avenger. 

The priefts of this god were called Salii; they 
had the care of the Ancilia, or facred Ihields, the 
origin of which is as follows : — 

A fliield, of a form till that time unknown, 
being found, it was fuppofed to have fallen from 
heaven. The oracle being confulted, returned 
for anfwer, that the empire of the world was 
deftined for that city which mould preferve this 
fhield, Numa Pompilius, the better to fecure it 

from 



HISTORY OF MARS AND VICTORY. v i8i 

from lofs, had feveral made fo exactly in imitation 
of k,. that it was impoflible to diftinguifli which 
was the original. 

The form of the Ancilia was an oval, a little in- 
dented in one part. Their , length was about two 
feet and an half. The number of the Ancilia, like 
that of the priefls called Salii, was twelve. Tullus 
Hoftilius increafed them to twenty-four. 

During the feaft of the Ancilia, which began in 
the calends of March, and lafted thirteen days, 
they were carried in procefnon, the attendants 
dancing, and finging verfes adapted to the 
occafion. 

During the continuance of thefe feafts no mi- 
litary enterprife, no expedition, no bufinefs of 
importance was permitted. Ancient monuments 
generally reprefent Mars under the figure -of a man 
extremely robuft, armed with a helmet, a pike, 
and a fhield. He is fometimes naked, and fome- 
times wears a military drefs, and a cloak. 1 

Mars the Conqueror carries a trophy. 

Mars Gradivus is in the attitude of a man 
walking with large ftri,des. 



n 3 VICTORY 



VICTORY. 



VICTORY. 

Hesiod fays that victory was the daugh- 
ter of Styx and the river Acheron. 

She aflifted Minerva in the battle of the giants. 
This goddefs had feveral temples in Greece and 
Rome, and it was in her temple the /Romans placed 
the ftatue of Cybele, when brought from Peffinus. 

The Arcadians, the moment of their arrival in 
Italy, erected a temple to the goddefs Victory ; 
and the Dictator Sylla inttituted games to her 
honour. 

In medals and pieces of fculpture me is feen 
flying in the air, holding in her hand a crown, or 
a branch of palm. 

The Egyptians reprefented her under the form 
of an eagle ; a bird ever victorious. 

She fometimes carries a globe, to mow that her 
empire extends over the whole earth. 

In naval victories me is feen placed on the prow 
of a veiTeh 



THE 



HISTORY Of VENUS, i$j 



THE HISTORY AND FABLE OF VENUS. 

To adorn the imagination with the power 
and language of truth; to furprife, affect, and 
ever pleafe, are the principal objects of poetry, 
when fhe abandons herfeif to what me calls her 
genius. She may embellifh and even exaggerate 
a common occurrence ; but this power is ufelefs 
in defcribing the excefs of the pafTions ; for the 
limits of truth are hers, and when me attempts to 
overflep them me becomes ridiculous and inef- 
fectual. 

The poets foon perceived the weaknefs of their 
pencil when they attempted to paint beauty. Its 
dangerous influence was felt, and their molt al- 
luring defcriptions were frequently eclipfed by the 
models they were intended to reprefent. To avoid 
this hazard, anddifguife their inability, they created 
it a divinity, and were not deceived in their 
opinion that weak mortals would foon become 
their accomplices, and hafcen to erect altars to its 
honour. 

Venus fprings from the foam of the fea; a 
lea fhell failing gently on the furfaee of the 
water is wafted by the gentle breath of zephyrs 
to the foot of Mount Cythera. Here the god- 

n 4 defs 



184 HISTORY OF VENUS. 

defs lands, and as fhe walks, flowers fpring under 
her feet. The Hours, who were charged with 
her, education,, received her, and conducted her to 
heaven. 

Her train is compofed of the Smiles, Sports, and 
Graces. .Her power and charms are heightened 
by the ceftus, a myfterious girdle, producing 
every paflion at the appearance of the object who 
wears it. Such was the Venus of the poets when 
fhe appeared before the gods > s but let us leave to 
poets the tafk of embellifhing their pictures, and 
content ourfelves with knowing what mythology 
informs us concerning the origin of Venus. 

Hefiod fays that fhe was produced from the p- 
foam of the fea, and the blood which flowed from 
Cceius, when wounded by his fon Saturn. 

From this Angular compound proceeded the 
moft beautiful of the goddeiTes \ fhe firft appeared 
at Cythera, and from thence paffed into Cyprus. 
Almolt all the poets have followed the tradition of 
Hefiod, However Homer, who was equally as 
ancient, and much more celebrated, fays fhe was 
the daughter of Jupiter and Dione, 

Cicero reckons - four of the name of Venus. — 
The firft, daughter of Cceius and Lux> or the 
Light. — -The fecond, fprung from the foam of 
the fea, was mother of Cupid.— The third, 
daughter of Jupiter and Dione> was wife to Vul- 
can 



HISTORY OF VENUS. 

< 

can, and mother of Anteros. — The fourth and laft, 
was Aflarte, wife of Adonis/ born in Phoenicia, 

Paufanias mentions three : one celeftial, who 
prefided over chafte affection ; another terreftriai 
who prefided over marriage ; and a third, called 
Averfativa, who banifhed all criminal defires. — 
Such was the difference of opinion among the 
ancient poets concerning Venus. 

Among the moderns, the illuftrious Sir Ifaac 
Newton feems to reckon only one Venus, whom 
he calls Calycopis ; and fays Ihe was daughter of 
GEtreus, king of Phrygia ; that fhe married Thoas 
furnamed Cinyras, and was mother of iEneas. 
Thoas raifed altars to her at Paphos, in Amathus, 
in the ifle of Cyprus, and at Byblos — he inftituted 
feafts to her honour which were called orgies ; and 
committed the care of her worfhip to a college of 
priefts which he founded. 

It is upon the authority of Tacitus, Evhemerus, 
and Laclantius, that the illuftrious Newton founds 
his opinion concerning the origin of Venus. 

We can give no clear information concerning 
this goddefs, either from fabulous hiftory or the 
accounts of the poets j becaufe we find in them a 
perpetual mixture of natural philofophy, mora- 
lity, and hiftory. Frequently fhe is confidered as 
a goddefs, fometimes as a planetj but her name 
in general ferves only to defcribe the paflions. 

That there have been many of the name of 
3 Venus 



\ 



l86 HISTORY OF VI NTS. 

Venus appears certain ; but fhe was originally of 
Phoenicia. This eafcern nation adored Venus 
Urania, or the heavenly, that is to fay the planet 
of that name 5 and in the courfe of time her 
worfhip became confounded with that of Aftarte, 
wife of Adonis. 

When the Phoenicians led their cciomes into 
the ifles of the Mediterranean, they firfl flopped at 
the ifland of C}prus, which lay neareft to the 
ccaft of Syria, From thence they proceeded to 
Cythera, an ifland not far from the Continent of 
Greece. Here they introduced their commerce 
and religion among the inhabitants, whofe paflion 
for the marvellous led them to report that it was 
among them Venus Brft appeared. 

They gave her the name of Aphrodite, Foam, 
to exprefs that (he arrived by fea. 

The Temple of Cythera was one of the mofl 
ancient Venus pciTefTed in Greece. 

The hiftories of Aftarte and Venus were foon 
confounded by the Greeks. The uncertainty of 
hiflorieai facts, the impofiibility of arranging them 
with order, left the poets no other guide than their 
imagination ; they confulted only their own paf- 
fions, or thole of the princes or great characters 
they wifhed to flatter. 

From thence it was that the mofl alluring pic- 
tures, and frequently the mofl fcandalcus ad ven- 
ture s 3 



HISTORY OF VENUS, 187 

tures, furnifhed them with materials for the hiftory 
of their Venus. 

Fainting and fculpture, fillers of poetry, 
thought themfelves entitled to imitate her extra- 
vagancies. Venus was reprefexited as the goddefs 
of Pleafure. Cupid, or Love, was faid to be her 
fon, and all the finimed productions of the poets 
and artifts were thus realized into divinities. Yet 
however bad the idea they entertained of this 
divinity, ihe was regarded as one of the moft pow- 
erful, becaufe fhe prefided over the paftions. Her 
temples were found every where. — Thofe of 
Paphos, Gnidus, Amathus, Cythera, and Idalia, 
were the moft remarkable for their beauty - } but 
the moft prophaned by iicentioufhefs and diforder. 
The worlhip of Venus was extremely various in 
fome places they only burnt incenfe upon her 
altars ; in others they facriflced a white goat. 
Women ufed to confecrate their hair to this 
goddefs. 

Queen Berenice, wifhing to obtain fuccefs for 
her hufband in his war againft Seleucus, devoted 
her hair to this goddefs, and fufpended it in her 
temple : it difappeared, and the foothfayers being 
confulted, to flatter the queen, faid, that the hair 
had been changed into a ftar, and tranflated to 
heaven. 

This fable procured a ftar which had been newly 
difcovcred,, the name of Berenice's lock. 

The 



i88 



HISTOB.Y OF VENUS. 



The hiftories of Aftarte and Venus being con - 
founded together, gave rife to the fable of Adonis. 
He was fen of Cinyras, king of Cyprus, and 
Myrrha— This nymph was metamorphofed into 
the tree of the fame name, before the birth of 
her fon Adonis. When the time of her delivery- 
arrived, the tree opened, and Adonis was received 
and brought up by the Naides. Educated in the 
woods, the chafe became his greater! pleafure ; 
Venus ufed to accompany him, and trembled whea. 
forced to part from him, left he mould be 
wounded by fome wild beaft. Mars, jealous of 
the attention paid by Venus to this handfome 
youth, excited againft him an enormous boar $ 
the animal made furiou£Ly towards Adonis, who 
wounded him with a javelin, but not mortally ; 
he full retained ftrength enough to tear him with 
his tuiks, Venus came to his affiftance, but too 
late ; he was dead. Difconfolate for his lofs, fhe 
irietamorphofed him into an anemone, and obtained 
of Proferpine, that he mould, pafs fix months in 
the infernal regions, and fix months on earth. 

Temples were raifed to this favourite of Venus. 
—That in the ifle of Cyprus, which was the moft 
magnificent,', contained the famous, necklace of 
Eriphiie, wife of Amphiaraus, given her by Poiy- 
nices, fon of Ggdipus, to betray her hufband. 

Hiftory gives an explanation of the ftory of 
Adonis. It fays, that this young prince go- 
verned 



i 



HISTORY OF VENUS. 189 

' verned part of Phoenicia, and to confummate 
beauty of perfon, added molt amiable qualities of 
mind. 

He married the daughter of.the king of Byblos, 
and at his death lucceeded to that prince's throne* 
One day hunting in the forefts of mount Libanus, 
he was dangerou fly wounded by a wild boar. The 
queen, thinking the wound mortal, delivered her- 
felf up to fuch exceflive grief that his fubjects 
thought him dead ^ and the mourning was general 
throughout Phoenicia. He however recovered, 
and in the tranfports of public joy, they dcfcribed 
the danger he had efcaped, by faying he was 
returned from the infernal regions. 

This fable acquire*! the greater credit, as Ado- 
nis afterwards reprefented the Sun ; and queen 
Aft arte the Moon. By faying that he palfed fix 
months on earth, and lix in the infernal regions, 
it was intended to defcribe the divifion of time into 
days and nights. 

We (hall not attempt to relate all the fables of 
the poets concerning Venus ; they are innumer- 
able ; and we have already faid they are a mix- 
ture of hiftory, morality, and natural philofophy. 
Every poet had the right of creating them at 
pleafure ; thofe which poflfefled genius will be 
tranfmitted to the lateft poflerity whilft thofe 
which polfe (Ted only mediocrity funk into oblivion. 
Amongft the moft celebrated, is that of the mar- 
' • ^age 



HISTORY OF VENUS'* 

riage of Venus with Vulcan, the moil deformed 
of all the gods. This fable fignifies that beauty 
extends her» empire even over thofe on whom 
nature has bellowed no talents for pleafing. Vul- 
.can releafmg Juno from the fetters which he him- 
felf had forged by the command of Jupiter, fet- 
ting a price upon this fervice, and becoming 
the hufband of Venus, is an image of thofe un- 
equal unions in which the gifts of fortune are 
thought to compenfate for thole of nature* In 
the fable of Mars* we fee the terrible god of war 
crowned by VicTory, regardlefs of his bloody tro- 
phies, come to depofit his laurels at the feet of 
Beauty. The genius of painting thought himfelf 
obliged to pay her his tribute he guides the hand 
of Apelles, and that fkilful artift immortalizes his 
name by animating the canvas, upon which Venus 
appears in ail her charms. The air of chagrin 
and jealoufy in the countenance of Juno is the 
greateft homage Ihe can pay to the beauty of her 
rival. — Near her is feen Pallas in a Hate of afto- 
nifhment. Her lips> which appear almoft moving, 
ihow that Die has juft been fpeaking, and the 
fpeclator, feduced by the fkill of the painter* 
thinks he hears her with regret confirm the judg- 
ment of Paris, when he gave Venus the apple 
thrown by the goddefs Difcord, with this in- 
fcription, : 

" To the molt beautiful." 

It 



HISTORY OF VENUS. X9I 

It would be impoflible to recount all the different 
methods of reprefenting this goddefs. . The works 
of painting and fculpture varied almoft as much as 
the poetical fictions. 

When me holds a globe in her hand me repre- 
fents the celeftial Venus, or the planet of that 
name. The ftatue by the celebrated Scopas, 
reprelents her mounted on a car, drawn by a fea 
goat Nereids and Dolphins, carrying Cupids, ap- 
pear fwimming round her. She is frequently 
painted .borne on a fea fhell, fporting on the 
waves of the ocean ; her head is covered with a 
veil, floating in the breath of zephyrs. Love 
fwims by her fide tritons furround her ; and at 
her feet is an oar, emblematical cf her origin i 
fometimes a horn of plenty is placed there, to 
exprefs the riches produced by commerce with 
diftant nations. 

When Venus traverfes the heavens or the earth, 
her car is drawn by doves or fwans. She is ac- 
companied by Love, and followed by the Graces. 
The moll perfect, and the more beautiful of her 
ftatues, is that called Venus de Medicis, which 
is attributed to the celebrated Phidias. There is 
a very fmgular reprefentation of her, where fhe 
appears crowned with ears of corn, holding in 
one hand a thyrfis furrounded with grapes and 
vine leaves, and in the other, three arrows. 

By this we are to underftand, that her lhafts are 

more 



i92 HISTORY OF VENUS. 

more lure when affifted by wine and the pleasures 
of the table. She is accompanied by two Cupids. 

A drawing by Begcr, reprefents this goddefs 
upon a car, drawn by two lions a veil floats 
over her head, and her left hand is armed with 
an arrow ; Cupid, hovering over her, places a 
crown upon her head ; laurels and myrtles fur- 
round her on every fide ; a man walks before, 
holding a lyre, which he feems to touch ; two 
others attend with torches and the proceflion is 
clofed by a fatyr playing upon the flute. This 
picture reprefents Venus triumphant. 

The flory of the leap of Leucas is too nearly 
connected with that of Venus to be parted over in 
file nee. 

There was in Leucadia, near Nyfopolis, a lofty 
eminence, from which difconfolate lovers threw 
themfelves as a remedy for their, hopelefs paffion. 
Nets ingenioufly fpread prevented their receiving 
any injury from their fall, and the inventors of 
this impofture were. rewarded with rich prefents. 

Phocas was the firft who took this dangerous 
leap. However, repeated experience apparently 
brought this ridiculous cuftom into difrepute 1 
the nets were no longer continued ; but the pro- 
montory of Leucas (till remained famous ; and the 
unhappy Sappho (to whom the Greeks gave the 
name of the Tenth Mufe) again revived its cele^ 
brity. In defpair at the infenflbility of Phaon, 

me 



HISTORY AND FABLE OF VENUS. 19-3 

me ran to the promontory, plunged into the fea, 
and there perifhed. 

The river Selinus, near Patara, was fup- 
pofed to have the property of extinguifhing the 
flames of love by bathing in its waters. 

The rofe was particularly confecrated to Venus* 
as the molt beautiful of flowers. 

The fable adds, that its colour was originally 
white ; but being nightly tinctured with the blood 
of Adonis, who had been pricked by a thorn, it 
became red. The myrtle was dedicated to her, 
becaufe it is generally found on the fea more 
and this goddefs originally fprung from the 
waves. The fable like wife informs us of the 
reafon why doves were firft confecrated to hen 

Cupid and Venus being together in a place 
abounding in flowers ; Cupid boafted that he 
could gather more than his mother. Venus ac- 
cepted the challenge; but Cupid making ufe of 
his wings to fly from flower to flower, would foon 
have carried off the victory, had not the nymph 
Periftera come to the afiiftance of Venus. Cupid 
picqued at this defeat, changed the nymph into a 
dove. This fable is founded on the. ambiguity of 
the Greek word periftera, which fignifies a dove* 

The furnames of Venus were as various as the 
ftories concerning her, and the places where me 
was worshipped. She was called Urania, or Cce- 
lefta ? where fhe was confounded with the planet of 

O her 



*94 FABLE OF LOVE, OR CUPID* 

her name ; and Aphrodite, becaufe me proceeded 

'from the froth of the fea. 

The Romans named her Murtia, from the 
myrtle j the AfTyrians, Aflarte; the Perfians, Anaitis * 
they likewife gave her the names of mother, 
victorious, and friend, became fhe prefided over 
the union of hearts, &c, 

FABLE OF LOVE, OR CUPID. 

Lovs is no real perfonage; he exifted 
only in the imagination of the poets. Cicero 
reckoned three Cupids, becaufe he admitted three 
of the name of Venus. Hefiod mentions onlyone^ 
fon of Nox and iEther, — coeval with Chaos and 
Terras by this allegorical perfonage, he wifhes to 
reprefent the moment when the earth was peopled 
by men and animals. 

The poets defcribe him as fon to the god of 
riches and the goddefs of poverty, to exprefs that 
no condition is exempt from the power of love. 

Without entering into all the genealogies in- 
vented by the poets, we mall content ourfelves 
with obferving, that by love they wifhed to be 
underftood, the phyfical principle which ferved to 
connect together the fcattered parts of matter 
when Chaos was reduced to order. 

Thisgeneral idea was not fufficient for the poets 

m 

i 



REPRESENTATION OF CUPID. ig£ 

to embeUilh their defcriptions ; they firft diftin- 
guifhed two Cupids; one, fon of Venus Urania, 
prefidcd over legitimate union ; the other called 
Anteros, was fon of Mars and Venus, and pre- 
fided over the pafiions. They were afterwards 
increafed to a prodigious number; but their diffe- 
rent ftories belong rather to poetry than mytho- 
logy. Their worfhip, temples, and altars, were 
confounded with thofe of Venus. 



OBSERVATIONS UPON THE MANNER OF 
REPRESENTING CUPID. 

We frail not attempt to defcribe the 
different methods of reprefenting Cupid. The 
Mufes, the Graces, the Arts of every age have made 
him the fubject of their moft animated pleafing 
performances : to relate the whole of them cannot 
poflibly be expected. We beg leave to prefent 
only one of the many finiflied productions upon 
this fubjecl:. The fight of thofe ftatues, pictures, 
and drawings, which have efcaped the ravages of 
time, at firft inclines us to believe that art can 
extend no farther, and that they are to be looked 
upon as the ftandards of perfection ; but who has 
the right of prefcribing limits to genius ? Why 
mould the moderns yield to the ancients an ho- 
nour they themfelves can attain? A faithful imi- 

o 2 tation 



igS REPRESENTATION Or CUPID. 

tation of nature, is the only rule prefcribed by the 
god of genius, and tafte. — How often have we feen 
the moll learned and experienced artifts deceived, 
notwithstanding their prejudice in favour of an- 
tiquity ? Mediocrity alone is terrified at the fight 
of difficulties and great models* 

Apelles when he painted Venus receiving the 
Apple deftined to the moft beautiful, wifhed to 
oblige every eye to yield to the judgment of Paris? 
He afTembled ail the beauties of Greece ; but did 
not imitate the fhepherd of Mount Ida. Obedient 
to the rules of his art, he did not fuffer himfelf to 
be dazzled; one fingle beauty alone had not the 
power to engage his whole attention. It was by 
borrowing from each their moft perfect feature 
that he formed his Venus. 

Scarce had he finimed this mafter-piece, when 
the multitude of beauties, furprifed and confounded 
at the fight of the goddefs, proftrated themfelves 
before her, and feemed now to be only nymphs in 
her train. 

We may be allowed to imitate Apelles, and 
think ourfelves authorifed from this circumfbance 
to mention a modern Chef d' ceuvre whofe title 
and addrefs is as follows, 

(C Birth and triumph of Cupid, from papers cut by Lady 
Daflnvood, in the collection of her Majefty. 
Engraved by P. W. Tomkins, engraver to her Majefty. 

DEDICATED TO THE QUEEN 

This 



PSYCHE. igy 

This charming work confifts of fix and twenty- 
engravings, in which are united all the beauties of 
true genius, fenfe, grace, and propriety. In fur- 
veying them, we imagine we fee the drawings of 
Albano, or the gardens of Alcina, and Armida, 
as defcribed by TafTo and Ariofto. It may be 
thought that the title above mentioned does 
not fufficiently difcover the real author of this 
finilhed performance ; but we muft refpect the 
veil which the glory even of having produced it 
has never dared to raife. 

When Rome and Athens were in the height of 
their glory, it would have been more eafy to have 
imagined it fallen from heaven than to attribute this 
filence to modefty alone. This work, worthy of 
Apollo, would have been placed in his temple, 
and even procured adoration, but the times of 
fidion are pafTed; the god no longer has altars, yet 
the temple of tafte is eternal, and there it will 
remain as a model for future ages. 



PSYCHE. 

T he fable of Pfyche has not the lead con- 
nection with hiftory. It is fimply an allegory, 
figurative of the foul. Her marriage with Cupid 
procures her the rank and attributes of an 
immortal. 

03 This 



198 THE GRACES. 

This union was intended to reprefent the empire 
of the paflions over the foul. 

The amiable and celebrated la Fontaine has 
adorned this fable with all the charms of his genius, 
and at the fame time has preferved that fimplicity 
of ftyle, and that moral inftru&ion, which cha- 
rade rife all his productions. 

It is necefTary to read him for to abridge la Fon- 
taine would be as improper as to feparate the 
ftatues of the Graces. 

The ancients reprefented Pfyche with the wings 
of a butterfly; and in the Greek language Pfyche 
fignifies equally foul and butterfly. 



THE GRACES. 

Of all the imaginary divinities of the 
ancients, the moft agreeable were undoubtedly 
the Graces; flnce it was to them the others were 
indebted for all their charms. To places, perfons 
and performances, to every thing they gave that 
flnifhing touch which embellifhes even perfection. 
They alone difpenfed the general gift of pleafing. 
Each art and fcience had its prefiding deity ; but 
every art and fcience acknowledged the empire 
of the Graces. Their power, fuperior to that of 
beauty, added frefh charms to fouling youth, and 
3 w ^s 



THE GRACES. 219 

was felt and admired even under the features of 
old age. 

The ancients were by no means unanimous con- 
cerning their origin fome faid they were the 
daughters of Jupiter and Juno; others, of Jupiter 
and Eurynome; but the mod general opinion 
was, that they were daughters of Venus and 
Bacchus. 

The number of the Graces is very uncertain. 
The Athenians and Lacedemonians reckoned only 
two ; Hefiod and the other poets, three ; whom 
they called Aglaia, Thalia, and Euphrofyne. 

Homer gives the name of Pafithea to one of the 
Graces and in Greece, and feveral other countries, 
they were frequently reckoned four in number ; 
but they then reprefented the hours, and (till more 
frequently the four feafons. 

To diftinguifli them, they v/ere reprefented 
crowned with ears of corn, flowers, grapes, and 
olive branches; or fome other green foliage. 

There exift antique frames of Apollo, holding 
in their hands four little graces. Some authors 
added Perfuafion to their number, to mow that to 
pleafe is the lured method of perfuading. 

Originally the Graces were reprefented by unhewn 
itones; which were intended to mow that the mod 
fimple objects received charms from them. They 
were afterwards defcribed as young virgins, naked, 
or lightly covered wich gauze, to exprefs that 

o 4 beauty 



200 



THE GRACES. 



beauty muft be the gift of nature, that nothing 
can fupply it when wanting, and that it ought to 
be cautious and moderate in the ufe of borrowed 
ornaments. 

At Eiis were to be feen the three ftatucs of the 
Graces. The firft held a rofe, the fecond a myrtle, 
and the third a die : the myrtle and the rofe, 
becaufe they were confecrated to Venus ; and 
the die, becaufe youth is fond of amufement. 
Statues of fatyrs were frequently met with of a 
mo ft hideous appearance. Thefe ftatues were 
hollow, and contained within them images of the 
Graces, (a leffon equally mild as inftrudtive, to 
teach us, that the advantages of beauty alone are 
not iufficient.) 

The amiable qualities of the foul, and the charms 
of the mind, are not perceived at the firft glance ; 
unhappy is he who knows not how to feek for and 
difcover them. 

The figure of Efop was frequently the object 
of ridicule 5 but the wife of all ages will do juftice 
to the beauty of his genius. 

It may eafily be imagined that the Graces had 
numberlefs altars* 

Eteocles, king of Orchomenus, is faid to have 
eftabliihed their worfhip, and to have erected the 
firft temple to their honour. 

In the courfe of time, this circumftance caufed 
him to be regarded as the father of them. How- 
ever 



THE GRACES. 



201 



ever the Lacedemonians difputed him the honour 
of having firft invoked them, and attributed it to 
Lacedemon, their fourth king. The towns of 
Perinthe, Byzantium, Delphos, and feveral others, 
both of Greece and Thrace, raifed temples to them. 
All thofe which were confecrated to the god of 
love were decorated with their figures. They 
had a place in the temple of Mercury, to mow, 
that the god of eloquence cannot difpenfe with 
their afliftance. 

They were alfo found in thofe of the Mufes ; 
when thefe were invoked, the Graces were never 
forgotten. 

Pindar, and all the celebrated poets, implored 
their infpiration as much as that of the Mufes ; 
they were infeparable. Every feafon of the year 
feafts were celebrated to their honour; but to 
them as to Venus fpring was more particularly 
confecrated. Flowers were fuppofed to convey a 
ftriking idea of them. They had monuments 
throughout every part of Greece. At Smyrna 
was a picture of them by Apelles. The wife 
Socrates formed their ftatue in marble ; and Bupa- 
lus made one of gold. They were generally- 
thought the dilpenfers of a graceful appearance, 
evennefs of temper, chearfulnefs, eloquence, and 
wifdom. But the principal and nobleft of their 
attributes, was that of prefiding over acts of 
friendlhip and gratitude. x 

The 

; 



£02 



THE GRACES'. 



The Athenians having received affiftance from 
the inhabitants of Cherfonefus in a cafe of immi- 
nent danger^ raifed an altar with this infcription: 

To that Grace which prefides over gratitude.." 

The difcerning Athenians clearly perceived that 
gratitude can only be regarded as a burthen by the 
ungrateful ; but at the fame time they defcribed 
thefe goddefTes as quick and lively, to denote that 
a favour mould never be waited for; it was a 
favourite faying among them, that a kindnefs 
which comes too flow was no longer fuch. All 
the attributes and furnames of thefe goddefTes were 
allegorical. They were called cbarites/joy, to fig- 
nify that he who gives, and he who receives, ought 
both to experience equal pleafure. They were 
defcribed always young, to fnow that the remem- 
brance of a favour fliould never be forgotten. 
As virgins, becaufe the intention of him who con- 
fers a favour ought always to be pure. They 
were endowed with prudence, which made Socrates 
fay, the Graces were virgins and not courtezans. 
In their dances they were reprefented hand in hand, 
to teach us that men mould unite by mutual acts 
of friendlhip. Laftly, thefe dances were always 
performed in a circh^ to fignify, that real gratitude 
always endeavours to return to the fource the 
bentfe it has received, 



HISTORY 



HISTORY OF VULCAN. 



HISTORY AND FABLE OF VULCAN. 

It appears that we rnuft diftinguifh three 
of the name of Vulcan. The firft was Tubalcain, 
mentioned by Mofes, who places him in the tenth 
generation of the defcendants of Cain. This was, 
without doubt, the firft inventor of the art of 
forging metals. The fecond was one of the firft 
Egyptian monarchs, or rather, their firft divi- 
nity. The lilence they obferve concerning his 
origin, leads us to believe that to find it we muft 
return to Tubalcain. 

The third Vulcan (whofe hiftory the Greeks 
have compiled from the preceding two, with fome 
additions of their own) was a Titan prince, fon of 
Jupiter, obliged by difgrace to take refuge in the 
ifland of Lemnos, where he eftablilhed forges. 
We fhall give the account of him as tranfmitted 
to us by the Greeks. He was the fon of Jupiter 
and Juno, of a premature birth, and much de- 
formed. Jupiter, to recompenfe him for having, 
during the war of the giants, provided him with 
thunder, and for having forged fetters to punifri 
Juno, confented to his marriage with Venus, the 
moft beautiful of the goddeiTes. He was furnamed 
Mulciber, and Tardipes, from being lame. After 

his 



204 HISTORY OF VULCAN. 

his retreat, or banifhment, to the ifle of Lemnos, 
he was called Lemnius. It is to him that fabulous 
hiftory attributes the moil famous works which 
it makes mention of; particularly the palace of 
the fun ; the arms of Achilles and iEneas, the neck- 
lace of Hermione, the crown of Ariadne, and the 
brazen dog which he animated. Jupiter prefented 
this dog to Europa; Europa gave it to Procris, 
and its greateft value in r her eyes arofe from being 
able to be flow it on her beloved CephaJus. It 
was at laft by Jupiter metamorphofed into a 
ft one. We may perceive on reading this fable, 
that the dog of Vulcan was imitated by fome artifts 
who made it of ftone inftead of brafs. 

Jupiter finding Vulcan too crooked and deformed 
to permit him to remain in heaven, with his foot 
precipitated him into the iiland of Lemnos, fitu- 
ated near thofe called Liparis, which were originally 
called Vulcanian, and afterwards Eolian. Thefe 
Iflands abounding in volcanos, which vomited forth 
torrents of burning lava, were looked upon as the 
forges of Vulcan. The fame opinion was enter- 
tained of mount /Etna, in Sicily. 

Hiftory reprefents the Grecian Vulcan, one of 
the* Titan princes, as very expert in the art of 
forging iron and other metals. 

Fire, which he had fo ingeniouily employed, 
was con fee rated to him, and frequently went under 
hl> name. The utility of this art was fo clearly 

perceived^ 



7 



HISTORY OF VULCAN. 20^ 

perceived, that the inventor of it was thought 
worthy of divine honours. 

The ftory fays, that Vulcan was afiifted in his 
labours by the Cyclops ; after Polyphemus their 
father, his fons Brontes, Steropes and Pyracmon, 
are mentioned as the mofl celebrated. 

Polyphemus was fon of Neptune, and a daughter 
of the giant Tityus, called Europa, like the daugh- 
ter of Cadmus carried off by Jupiter. Galatea, 
a fea nymph, daughter of Nereus and Doris, was 
fo unfortunate as to pleafe him. In hopes of gain- 
ing her affections he raifed a temple to her honour; 
but difcovcring that fhe preferred Acis, he crulhed. 
his rival under a rock, which he hurled at hi in. 
The afflicted Galatea unable to reftore him to life, 
metamorphofed him into a river, which flows in 
Sicily, and ftill retains the name of Acis. 

The Cyclops appear to have been the firft inha- 
bitants of Sicily. Ignorance of their origin occa- 
fioned them to be regarded as the fons of Heaven 
and Earth. It is probable they firft eftablimed 
themfelves at the foot of mount iEtna, which 
from the flames it fends forth, was fuppefed to be 
the forge of Vulcan ; and its dreadful roaring was 
compared to the reiterated ftrokes of the Cyclops 
upon their anvils. 

They are defcribed as having one eye in the 
middle of the forehead ; this may probably mean 
that they wore mafks to defend themfelves from 

the 



HISTORY OF VULCAN. 



the fire, in which was a fingle opening for the 
purpofe of feeing their work. 

Vulcan had feveral children - } but the mofl dif- 
tinguifhcd was Ericthonius, or Ericlheus, fourth 
king of Athens ; born it was faid without a mother, 
or fon of the earth* Having crooked or diftorted 
limbs, to conceal his misfortune he invented 
chariots and carriages with four horfes a-breaft f 
After his death he was feigned to have been tranf- 
lated to heaven, and appointed to direct the con- 
ftellation called Charles's Wain. 

The deformity of his limbs gave occafion like- 
wife to the ftory, that his lower parts refembled 
thofe of a ferpent. The feafts celebrated in 
honour of Vulcan were called Lampadaphores ; 
fignifying to carry flambeaus. Thofe who con- 
tended in the race at thefe games ran to the end of 
the courfe with a lighted torch in their hands ; if 
they happened to extinguifh it they were driven 
from the amphitheatre, and he who firft touched 
the goal with his torch lighted gained the prize. In 
ancient monuments Vulcan always appears with his 
hair and beard difcompofed, a coat reaching juft 
to his knee, a round cap pointed at the top, a 
hammer in his right hand, and the pincers in his 
left. 

The Romans, in their mofl: folemn treaties, in- 
voked the avenging fire as witnefs j and the afTem- 

blies, 



HISTORY OF KLIICURY. 207 

blies, where the molt weighty affairs were dif- 
curTed, met in the temple of Vulcan. 

Of the more ancient people the Egyptians are 
thofe among whom this god was held in greateft 
veneration. He had a magnificent temple at 
Memphis, before which was placed a cololfal ftatue 
75 feet high. That which was in the temple 
being fmall and contemptible, excited the derifion 
of Cambyfes when he conquered Memphis ; and 
out of contempt he ordered it to be thrown into 
the fire. The lion v/as confecrated to Vulcan, be- 
caufe its roaring re fern bled the noife of a Volcano^ 
and his temple was continually guarded by dogs. 



HISTORY AND FABLE OF MERCURY. 

The ancients reckoned fuch a number o* 
Mercuries, whofe employments were fo widely dif- 
ferent, that to avoid confufion we muft recur- to 
hiftory. 

From that we learn that the number mull be re- 
duced to two ; the moft ancient of which was the 
Thaut, or Thot, of the Egyptians, contemporary 
with Ofiris. The fecond, according to Hefiod, 
was fon to Jupiter and Maia, daughter of Atlas, 
We meet with no perfon in antiquity more cele- 
brated than the Mercury of the Egyptians. He 

was 



20$ HISTORY OF MERCURY. 

was the foul of the council of Ofiris, who, on his 
departure for the conqueft of India, left him with 
Ifts, whom he had appointed regent of his domi- 
nions ; confidering him as the man moft capable 
of affifting her in the difcharge of that office. 
To Mercury the Egyptians were indebted for the 
ftourifhing ftate of their arts and commerce. 
Engaged in the fludy of the moft fublime fciences, 
by his extenfive knowledge of geometry, he 
taught the Egyptians how to diftinguifh their 
lands ; whofe limits were frequently deftroyed by 
the inundations of the Nile. He was the inventor 
of hieroglyphick characters, which afterwards 
ferved to perpetuate the memory of their religion 
and myfteries. 

Diodorus Siculus agrees with Hefiod as to the 
confidence repofed in him by the great Ofiris, and 
adds, that he reformed and reduced to exact rules 
the Egyptian tongue, fubftituting it for the rude 
uncertain dialects before made ufe of. 

He gave names to things which till then had 
none; firft invented letters, and regulated even 
the harmony of words and phrafes. 

After having eftablifhed the rites of facrifice 
and religious worfhip ; he imparted his knowledge 
of aftronomy to others. He was the inventor of 
the lyre, which had originally but three firings, 
bafe, tenor and treble. He firft practifed elocu- 
tion and interpretation, which afterwards procured 



HISTORY OF MERCURY. 209 

him the name of Hermes. To him the Egyptians 
afcribed the difcovery of the oiive. He likewife 
eftablifhed the cuftom of wreftling and dancing, 
which give ftrength to the body, and grace to the - 
motions. 

The number of books which he left are reckoned 
forty-two, and nothing could equal the veneration 
in which they were heid by the Egyptians. 

Some authors attribute part of them to a fecond 
Egyptian Mercury, furnamed Trifmegiftus ; but 
their proofs are very dubious. 

Thefe celebrated books have long been loft it 
is only known that the firft thirty-fix contained the 
whole of the Egyptian philofophy, and that the 
laft fix treated of medicine, furgery, and anatomy* 
This is all that is tranfmitted to us of the molt 
ancient of the Mercuries. 

The fecond Mercury, fon of Jupiter and Maia, 
acquired great reputation among the Titan 
Princes. 

After the death of his father, Italy, Gaul, and 
Spain, fell to his lot j but he was not abfolute fove- 
reign of them till the death of his uncle Pluto. 

This prince porTefTing great talents, great ad- 
drefs, and even great fubtlety, travelled into 
Egypt to acquire a knowledge of the fciences and 
cuftoms of that country. He there learned magic 
in particular, which was then much in ufe. 

He was confulted by the Titans his relations as 
P an 



£1© 



FABLE OF MERCURY* 



an augur, which gave occafion to the poets to dc^ 
fcribe him as interpreter of the will of the gods. 

In this excurfion into Egypt he obtained initia- 
tion into all their myfteries. The ufe which 
Jupiter made of his addrefs and eloquence made 
him regarded as the meffenger of the gods ; and 
his fuccefs in feveral treaties of peace procured 
him the appellation of God of Peace. He contri- 
buted greatly to civilize the manners, and cultivate 
the minds of the people. He united them by 
commerce and good Jaws i but the great defe&s 
which accompanied his extraordinary abilities in- 
volved him in a war with the other children of 
Jupiter, in which he was vanquished j and return- 
ing into Egypt ended his days there. 

This Mercury of the Greeks was generally re- 
garded as the inventor of the fine arts. 

The Gauls honoured him under the name of 
Teutates, and offered to him human vi&ims. 



TABLE OF THE GREEKS CONCERNING 
MERCURY. 

^vIercury, fon to Jupiter and M*aia, 
daughter of Atlas, had the moft a&ive employ- 
ment of any of the celeftial deities. The confi- 
dant and meffenger of the other gods, he was 

charged 



FABLE OF MERCURY. 



fit! 



charged with all their commiffions; upon him 
depended peace and war; he prefided at their 
affemblies; heard and infpired their harangues* 
anfwered them 2 and in fhoft was principal minifter 
of the gods. 

To exprefs the celerity with which he per- 
formed fo many functions, he is reprefented with 
wings to his head and feet. The latter are called 
Talaria. 

To defcribe his talents For negociating peace* 
he has the caduceum in his hand j (a fpecies of 
wand with two ferpents twifted round it.) This 
caduceum was the fymbol of peace. It is faid 
that Mercury one day finding two fnakes which 
were fighting, feparated them, or rather recon- 
ciled them with his wand, and from that time, 
when negociating peace* he carried this fymbol of 
reconciliation. 

It was in honour of Mercury, that negotiators 
for peace afterwards carried the caduceum, and 
called themfelves Caduciators* When Mercury 
was reprefented with a fimple wand, he was fup* 
pofed to be conducting departed fpirits to the 
infernal regions. It was thought he alone had the 
power of feparating with this wand the foul from 
the body. He prefided over tranfmigration, and 
transfufed into different bodies thofe fouls which 
had remained their deftined time in the dominions 
of Pluto. He was reprefented with a chain of 

p 2 gold 



212 



FABLE OF MERCURY. 



gold proceeding from his mouth, which was fas- 
tened to the ears of his auditors. A lively image 
to defcribe the influence of his eloquence over 
the mind. 

His ftatues were placed in the highway, to point 
out the road to travellers. The Romans fome- 
times joined thefe ilatues to the backs of thofe 
of the other gods. Thofe which were placed be- 
hind Minerva, were called Hermathenea ; thofe 
which were joined to Cupid, Hermerotcs, &x. 

He was called Mercury from mercatura> Com- 
merce over which he prelided. But as he was 
like wife fufpecled of countenancing knavery, he 
was confidered as the god of thieves ; and his 
adventure with Battus proves, that he would oc- 
cafionally pra&ife this art himfelf. 

One day feeing Apojlo attending the flocks of 
Admetus, he ftole fome of -his cattle, but was per- 
ceived by Battus. 

Mercury, to filence him, and engage him to 
fecrecy, gave him a fine cow ; but fufpe&ing his 
fincerity, he went away, and returned foon after 
under another form ; queftioned Battus concerning 
the theft, and promifed him an ox and a cow 
if he would difcover the robber. Tempted by 
fo dazzling an offer, the unlucky Battus difclofed 
the fecret, and Mercury immediately making him- 
felf known, changed him into a touch- ftone. This 

fable 



TABLE OF MERCURY. 213 

fable originated in the . circumftance of Battus 
having firft difcovered the properties of that 
ftone by which metals are tried. 

Mercury was ftyled the three-headed god, from 
his power in heaven, in earth, and in hell s or 
according to fome poets, becaufe he had three 
daughters by Hecate. He was called Cyllenius 
from the mountain Cyllenus where he was born ; 
Nomius from being the inventor of laws Camil- 
lus from ferving the gods (this name was after- 
wards given to thofe who officiated in facrifices) 
and Vialis, becaufe he prefided over the high- 
ways ; on which occafion his ftatues had neither 
hands nor feet, being what are now called bufts. 

Mercury was the inventor of weights and 
meafures, which by facilitating retail trade, in- 
creafed the profits of commerce. 

The lyre was alfo of his invention; it was 
called by the Romans teftudo, tortoife ; be- 
caufe it was originally formed of the fhell of that 
animal. 

Some poets fay, that he gave it to Apollo in 
exchange for the caduceus. 

In his facrifices they burnt the tongues of. vic- 
tims in honour of him, as being the god of elo- 
quence. They ufed to place his (latue before 
their doors, in hopes he would defend them 
from thieves, whofe patron he was fuppofed to be. 



DIVINITIES 



81$ 



SEA AND RIVER DIVINITIES* 



JDIVINITIES OF TME SEA AND RIVERS, 

The neceflities of life which conilantiy 
prefs us, necefnties which, ungratified, deprive us 
of exiftence, thefe led men to believe that there 
were gods appointed to prefide over them. Hence 
every element had its divinity. From the impof- 
fibility of Forming an idea of thofe invifible be- 
ings, they were fymfaolically reprefented by fome- 
thing animated. It was thus the Egyptians gave 
;he names of Ofiris and Ifis to the Sun and Moon. 

Neptune, famous as commander of the fleets of 
Jupiter, became god of the fear. Each river, 
fountain, and head of water, hacj its particular 
deity. 

This worfhip, like the cuftoms and opinions 
of different people, was various y but water was 
univerfally adored. The Egyptians held the fea 
in abhorrence, becaufe it reprefented to them the 
dreadful Typhon. They referved all their vene- 
ration for the waters of the Nile. They called 
this river Qceanus, Ipeus, or Nilus y frequently 
Siris, by way of abbreviation for Ofiris ; they 
reprefented it, or rather the deity that prefided 
over it, under the form of a vafe, pierced in every 
part, which they called Hydria. The Perfians 

haying 



SEA AND RIVER DIVINITIES. 215 

having offered to maintain the pre-eminence of 
Fire, which was their great divinity, the Egyptian 
priefts accepted the challenge. The Hydria was 
placed upon a flaming furnace ; but the perfora- 
tions being curioufly flopped with wax, when this 
melted, the water gufhed out, andextinguifhingthe 
fire, the Nile was pronounced victorious. From 
that time nothing could equal the veneration in 
which it was held by the Egyptians. According 
to them, the Nile, or water in general, was the 
principal of univerfal fertility, and alone gave life 
and motion to every living creature. The Indians 
paid divine honours to the Ganges ; which fuperfti- 
tion ftill continues ; and the princes who reign on 
the banks of that river, make their fubje&s pay 
for the privilege of bathing in it, and fetching 
water from It. 

A'lmoft every people of the earth paid divine 
honours to the ocean, feas, fountains, and rivers. 
In Greece there was neither fountain nor river 
which had not ftatues and religious infcriptions. 

To water were attributed the moft furprifing 
effects, and the poets increafed confiderably this 
fpecies of worfhip and idolatry, by the addition of 
their fictions. Hence proceeded thofe divinities 
who furpafs in number thofe of heaven, and every 
other part of the univerfe. Oceanus had by The- 
tis feventy-two nymphs, called Oceanides. Nereus 
had fifty Nereides, whofe names are mentioned 

p 4 by 



2;l6 HISTORY OF OCEANUS AND THETIS. 



by Hefiod. The fame poet makes the number of 
aquatic nymphs amount to three thoufand; and if 
to thefe are added the Nereids, the Napasa^, the 
Lymniades, &x. &c. — we (hall find that this 
clafs of divinities was without number 3 — but we 
fliall confine ourfelves to the moft: remarkable. 



HISTORY OF OCEANUS AND THETIS. 

Oceanus was fon to Ccelus and Terra. 
He was juftly regarded as the principal marine • 
divinity, fmce he reprefents the greateft collection 
of water, and it appears certain that this name 
was borne by a prince of the family of the Titans. 
Homer fays, that Juno was brought up by Oce- 
anus and Thetis his wife. From Oceanus and 
Thetis fprung Nereus and Doris, who had feveral 
children, known under the name of Nymphs. 

Thofe who prefided over forefts, trees, and 
meadows, were called Dryads and Hamadryads, or 
Napasas. Thofe who were the tutelar deities of 
rivers, rivulets, and fountains, w 7 ere named Nai- 
ades. Thofe who inhabited mountains were 
called Oreades and thofe who refided in the fea 
were called Nereides, from their father Nereus. 

The moft illuftrious of the latter, called 
alfo Thetis, muft be diftinguifhed from the wife 

of 



HISTORY OF NEPTUNE AND AMPHITRITE. 217 

of Oceanus. She was beloved by Jupiter, but 
he having read in the book of Fate, that fhc 
would have a fon more famous than his father, 
gave her in marriage to Peleus, by whom me had 
Achilles. Two antique monuments have tranf- 
mitted to us the manner in which Oceanus was 
reprefented. The firft is a ftatue difcovered at 
Rome, about the middle of the fixteenth century. 
The god is feen feated upon the waves, under the 
figure of an old man holding a pike, and near 
him is a fea-monfter of a form unknown. 

The fecond is a ftone of Beger, where he is 
likewife reprefented as an old man fitting upon 
the fea, and at a diftance are feen feveral veiTels. 
The hiftory of Oceanus is not extenfive, as the 
ancients did not regard him as a real perfonage. 
Nereus v/as reprefented furrounded by his daugh* 
ters, dolphins, and fea horfes. 



HISTORY OF NEPTUNE AND AMPHITRITE. 

N"eptune was fon of Saturn, and 
brother to Jupiter. In the divifion of his father's 
kingdom the dominion of the waves fell to his lot. 
His fceptre was a trident, his car, a vaii fhell, 
drawn by fea calves, or horfes, half whofe body 
refembled that of a fifh. His train was compofed 

of 



2l8 HISTORY OF NEPTUNE AND AMPHITRITE. 

of a number of Tritons, founding fea fhells inftead 
of trumpets. We learn from hiftory, that Nep- 
tune was one of the moft celebrated of the Titan 
princes, and had for his portion the Sea, the IHes, 
and all maritime places. 

Diodorus fays, that Neptune was the flrfl who 
commanded a naval armament. Saturn his father 
employed him to oppofe the Titans by fea. 

Jupiter, his brother, having feized the empire of 
Saturn, continued him in the command of the 
fleet, and always found him faithfully co-operate 
with him in all his projects. The Titan princes 
having fled before Jupiter, as far as the weftern 
countries, Neptune blocked them up there ; -^which 
gave rife to the fiction ; that he had imprifoned 
them in the infernal regions. The poets increafed 
the number of Neptunes, by giving this name to 
every unknown prince who arrived by fea, and 
acquired any degree of celebrity. It is to this abufe 
we muft attribute the multitude of ftories, me ta- 
rn orp holes, and adventures, afcribed to Neptune. 

Amphitrite, wife of Neptune, was a being en- 
tirely poetical having no relation at all to hiflory. 
Some of the ancients, however, believed her to be 
the daughter of a Titan prince, and fay that Nep- 
tune flood in need of an able negociator to accom- 
plifh this marriage. This gave rife to the ftory 
that Neptune fent a dolphin to obtain the confent 
of Amphitrite, which having fucceeded, the deity 
i out 



HISTORY OF NEPTUNE AND AMPHITRITE. 21$ 

out of gratitude placed it among the conftellations 
near Capricorn ; and endowed it with a rapidity in 
fwimming fuperior to other fifh. To dolphins the 
poets attribute a particular attachment to man, 
whom they are fuppofed to fuccour when fhip- 
wrecked. The fable of Neptune afiircing Apollo 
to rebuild the walls of Troy, is founded on the 
.circumfiance of that city and its dykes towards 
the fea being fo flrong, that they were fuppofed to 
be the workmanfhip of the gods. The covetous 
Laomedon plundered the temple of Neptune of 
the money depofited there, and neglected the wor^. 
fhip of Apollo. A violent irruption of the fea 
Jiaving deftroyed the dykes, and left the fhore 
covered with dead bodies and flime, the heat of 
the fun generated a peftilence, and the people, ever 
fuperftitious, attributed thefe two calamities to the 
vengeance of Neptune and Apollo. 

The Greeks gave Neptune the furname of 
Pofeidon, fignifying to dafh veffels in pieces. His 
trident had three points, expreffive of the waters 
of the fea, rivers, and fountains. The numerous 
vefTels which compofed the fleet of Neptune were 
diftinguifhed by different animals or figures placed 
upon their prows ; it is to that, we mud attribute 
his different metamorphofes. This deity is gene*, 
rally reprefented advancing upon the waves in a 
fhell drawn by two fea horfes $ in one hand he 
holds a trident., and the other he re pofes upon a 

dolphin. 



£20 THE TRITONS AND SYRENS. 

dolphin. We fhall not give an account, either of 
ail the furnames of Neptune, or of all the temples 
raifed to him - } their number almofl equalled that 
of the mariners who efcaped from fhip-wreck. 
His vi&ims were generally a horfe and a bull. 
The month of February was confecrated to him, 
becaufe this was the month of purifications. Du- 
ring the feafts of Neptune, horfes and mules, 
adorned with flowers, enjoyed a cefiation from la- 
bour. None dared difturb their repofe. This 
was a token of their gratitude to him for having 
firft inftrudted them in the art of breaking thefe 
animals, and rendering them ufeful. 



THE TRITONS AND SYRENS, 

T he firft of the Tritons was fon of Nep-* 
tune and Amphitrite ; or according to fome poets 
of Neptune and Casleno. The upper part of his 
body refembled that of man, the lower part that 
of a dolphin. 

Triton being the Trumpeter of Neptune, acted 
in that capacity in the war againft the giants ; and 
the extraordinary noife of his inftrument, fays the 
fable, fo terrified them, that they took to flight, 
and left the gods victorious. May not this be a 
corrupted tradition of the fall of the walls of Je- 
richo ? 



THE TRITONS AND SYREN 3. . 22-1 

richo ? The other (lories of the Tritons are merely- 
imaginary, founded upon the almoft general belief 
of both ancients and moderns, that there exift in 
the fea animals refembling the human fpecies. 
The natural predilection of the Greeks for the 
marvellous, and the prodigious diversity of fea 
animals, were fufficient to procure credit to thefe 
fictions, and render them innumerable. Of the 
Syrens we muft likewife entertain the fame opinion. 
They are reprefented by the poets as beautiful 
young females inhabiting the rocks on the coafl of 
Sicily. The charms of their finging allured mari- 
ners, who were wrecked in their attempts to ap- 
proach them. Leucofia, Ligea, and Parthenope 
were the mod famous. The latter died in a city 
called after her name, which being afterwards re- 
built by the tyrant Phalaris, was by him called 
Neapolis, Naples, or new city. 

The Syrens were daughters of the river Achelous, 
and the nymph Calliope. Ovid in his Metamor- 
phofes fays, that they were the companions of 
Proferpine at the time fhe was carried off by Plu- 
to. They petitioned the gods for wings to tra- 
verfe the ocean in queft of her, which was granted. 
The jealous Juno treacheroufly prompted them to 
challenge the nine Mufes in finging, but beino 
vanquifhed, the pupils of Apollo punifhed them by 
tearing off their wings, of which they made them- 

felves 



£22 THE TRITONS AND SYRENS. 

felves crowns. Several ancient monuments repre- 
fented the Mufes wearing thefe ornaments. 

The Syrens had melodious voices, and touched 
the lute mod enchantingly. Orpheus, when he 
accompanied the Argonauts, faved his companions 
from their allurements by ringing himfelf the 
battles and victories of the gods. 

The beauty of his verfes which he accompanied 
on the lute, clearly mowed the Syrens their own 
inferiority. Enraged at being excelled, they threw 
their inftruments into the fea, and never fang after. 
Their pride received a fecend mortification from 
UlylTes. Being warned againft their feducingarts, 
by the enchantrefs Circe, he caufed himfelf to be 
bound to the main mart of his veiTel, having fir ft 
taken the precaution to Hop the ears of his com- 
panions with wax. 

Hiftory explains thefe two fables by faying, 
that the coafts of Sicily were inhabited by adtreffes 
and courtezans, who endeavoured to detain tra- 
vellers among them by continually offering them 
a fucceffion of pleafures. 

- They are reprefented as beautiful females to the 
middle, the reft of their bodies terminating like 
thofe of the Tritons. 

The word Syren comes from selra^ chain, to 
exprefs the difficulty of refitting their charms and 
avoiding their fetters. 

The 



V 



PROTEUS. 

The holy man, Job, in one of his books, fays, 
f I lament my misfortunes with the melancholy tone 
of a Syren.' 

He feems to allude to certain Indian birds, men- 
tioned by Pliny the naturalift; the melody of 
whofe finging lulled travellers to fleep. They 
were only found in the mod unfrequented places, 



PROTEUS. 

Proteus, the fon of Neptune, or of 
Oceanus and Thetis, was entrufted with the care 
of Neptune's flocks, compofed of fea calves and 
other marine animals. The Latins called him 
likewife Vertumnus. He had the faculty of aflum- 
ing any form at pleafure. Smitten with the charms 
of Pomona, goddefs of gardens, he perfonated an 
old woman, the entire confidant of that goddefs* 
The ftratagem fucceeded, and he efpoufed Pomona, 
The ftory of Arifteus, fon of Apollo, and the 
nymph Cyrene, proves how capable Proteus was 
of transforming himfelf into whatever fhape he 
pleafed. Eurydice was preparing to efpoufe Or- 
pheus 3 already was the nuptial altar raifed in a 
meadow enamelled with flowers; the Aery Arifteus 
oppofed this union, and furioufly advanced to feize 
Eurydice j affrighted fhe fled through the meadow, 

and 



224 PROTEUS* 

and heedlefs of any other foe than the ram youth 
who purfued her, was mortally flung by a ferpent 
upon which fhe placed her foot. 

The nymphs, difconfolate for her lofs, revenged 
themfelves upon Arifteus by deftroying his bees. 
To repair this lofs, his mother Cyrene fent him 
to confult Proteus, advifing him to furprife him 
when afleep, to bind him faft, and allured him, 
that having in vain attempted to efcape by his 
metamorphofes, he would at lafh afiume his origi- 
nal form, and give him the information he required. 
Proteus being furprifed by Arifteus, awakes faft 
bound in chains ; in vain does he pra&ife every 
art of transformation, he is compelled to yield to 
recover his liberty. He informs his vanquisher, 
that he muft facrifice four bulls and as many hei- 
fers, to the manes of Eurydice ; and that from thele 
would proceed numerous fwarms of bees. Virgil 
affures us, that the fkin of a bullock or heifer, 
when expofed to the fun, attracts infects which 
prefently become bees. 

Hiftory makes mention of one Proteus, king of 
Egypt, who lived about the time of the Trojan war. 
From his fecrecy, wifdom, and forefight, this 
prince was fuppofed to have the power of feeing 
into futurity. The difficulty of difcovering his 
defigns, and the defire of enfnaring him by his 
anfwers, might have caufed the poets to feign, that 
to difcover his fecrets it was necefTary to bind him. 

Some 



GLAUCUS. £2$ 

Some authors fay, that Proteus was one of the 
magicians ftnt for by Pharaoh, when Mofes per- 
formed his miracles, at the departure of the Ifrael- 
ites out of Egypt. Others, on the contrary, 
regard the fable of Proteus as an allegory intended 
to mow, that truth is difficult to be difcovered by 
thofe who do not apply themfelves to the fearch 
of it with courage and perfeverance. 



GLAUCUS, PORTUNUS, PHORCYS, SARON, 
^EGEON. 

Glaucus was a flmerrnan. One day per- 
ceiving th^t the fifh. acquired extraordinary 
flrength on touching a herb upon which he had 
laid them, he wifhed himfelf to try the experi- 
ment, and immediately on touching it he leaped 
into the fea, where he was received into the num- 
ber of the fea deities. 

Glaucus was a dextrous fifherman, who had the 
talent of diving and remaining a long time under 
water. To make himfelf of more importance, 
he boafted of being entertained by the fea gods; 
he was at lad drowned, and gave rife to the fable 
we have juft related. The ancients reckoned 
three of the name of Glaucus j one, fon of Minos ; 
another, fon of Hippolitus 5 and the third, fur- 
named Ponticus. 

Portunus 



226 



PORTUNUS, PHORCYS. 



Portunus> fo called by the Latins, was fon of 
Athamas, king of Thebes, and Ino, daughter to 
Cadmus. Juno, the declared foe of Cadmus becaufe 
he was brother to Europa, infpired Athamas with 
fuch a phrenzy that he threatened to tear in pieces 
his wife I no, and her fon Melicerta. Flying pre- 
cipitately to avoid his vengeance, they fell into 
the fea, where they both perimed, and by the poets 
were feigned to have been changed into gods of the 
ocean. The name of Ino was exchanged into Leu- 
cothoe, and Melicerta was called Palsmon, or Por- 
tunus. He is defcribed with a key in his right 
hand, to exprefs, that ports are under his care and 
protection. The Roman ladies held Leucothoe in 
great veneration, but dared only invoke her in fa- 
vour of their nephews ; they were afraid left their 
own children mould fuffer the fame misfortunes 
as Leucothoe and her fon had experienced. Fe- 
male flaves were not permitted to enter her temple. 

Phorcys, or Phorcus, a fea deity, was fon of 
Pontus and Terra, or according to. others, of Nep- 
tune i he was the father of the Gorgons, of whom 
we mall fpeak in the hiftory of Perfeus. 

He had alfo a daughter named Thoofa, who was 
mother of Polyphemus, the moll celebrated ofthe 
Cyclops. He was likewife looked upon as the 
father of the ferpent which guarded the golden 
apples of the Hefperides. Scylk alfo was fup- 
pofed to be his daughter. 

This 



SAkON, iEGEOK* 227 

This nymph having engaged the affections of 
Neptune* excited the jealoufy of the goddefs Am- 
phitrite, who poifoned a fountain in which flic 
ufed to bathe* Scylla, on feeling the effects of the 
poifon, became diftra&ed, threw herfelf into the 
fea, and was changed into a monfter, much dreaded 
by mariners. 

Such is the fable invented concerning the gulph 
fituated between Reggio and Meffina. The noife 
of claming currents here refembles the barking 
of dogs ; and the dread of this gulph, as well as 
that of Charybdis, fituated on the oppofite fide, 
caufed them to be honoured as fea deities. The 
gulph Charybdis derived its name from a cruel 
woman who ufed to plunder travellers, but was at 
laft killed by Hercules. 

Saron was regarded as the particular divinity of 
failors. He was king of Corinth, and being 
pafllonately fond of the chace, one day plunged 
into the fea in purfuit of a ftag. Exhaufted 
with heat and fatigue he there perifhed, and his 
body being thrown on fliore by the waves, near a 
wood facred to Diana, in the Phcebean marfli, 
Was buried in the court before the temple. From 
that time this was called the Saronic, inftead of 
the Phcebean marfh. 

Mgcon is defcribed by Homer as a formidable 
giant. Ovid calls him fon of Ccelus and Terra. 
He inhabited the ocean, from whence he iffued to 

0^2 N affift 



22.8 NYMPHS, DRYADS, HAMADRYADS, 

afiift the Titans againft Jupiter, but being van- 
quished by Neptune he was forced to retire, and 
feek refuge in his watery abode. 

W e mufh not neglect mentioning the ftory of the 
Halcyon, a fea bird which builds its nefl: upon the 
waves even in winter. During fourteen days, 
from the thirteenth of December to the twenty- 
eighth of the fame month, the fea is perfectly calm, 
and feems to refpecl this bird. Mariners call thefe 
Halcyon days; a phcenomcnon which produced 
the following ftory ; 

Halcyone, wife of Ceyx, king of Trachrinia, faw 
in a dream her hufband who was returning from 
confulting the oracle at Delphos. At break of 
day me hardened to the fea more, and perceived 
at a diftance the floating body of her beloved 
Geyx. Following only the dictates of defpair, fhe 
plunged into the ocean and was drowned. Touched 
with companion, the gods transformed them both 
into the birds called Halcyons. 



NYMPHS, DRYADS, HAMADRYADS, NAP^EjE, 
AND NEREIDS. 

T hese divinities derived their origin from 
the water, &c. and ought confequently to be 
claiTed with the fea deities. Thofe who inha- 
bited the eartu were called in general Nymphs. 

Thofe 



NAPjM, AND NEREIDS. 22p 

Thofe who prefided over rivers and fountains 
were named Naiads. Thofe who refided in 
marfbes and pools were called Lymniades. Thofe 
who dwelt in groves, Nap 22^. 

Dryads were thofe who dwelt in woods; and 
Hamadryads thofe whole fate was attached to a 
particular tree, with which their life commenced 
and ended. : 

Nymphs of the mountains were called Oreades, 
and the name of Nereids was given to all thofe 
who inhabited the ocean. ' \ 

Milk, oil, honey, and fometimes goats were 
offered them in facrifice. The word nymph is 
fuppofed to be derived from iympha, water; or 
from the Phoenician word nephas> . foul. Before 
the fyftem of Tartarus and the Elyfian fields was 
adopted, fouls were fuppofed to wander round the 
tombs, or in gardens and woods, which had been 
their favourite haunts when living. Thefe places 
were regarded with religious veneration, and hence 
arofe the cuftom of facrificing to the manes of the 
dead under green trees. The care of thefe was 
committed to the nymphs, whofe number of courfe 
muft have increafed prodigioufly. To name them 
all we think would be entirely ufelefs. 



Q 3 OF 



1 



2$Q 



EOLUS AND THE WINDS, 



OF EOLUS AND THE WINDS. 

Eolus, god of winds and tempeits, muft 
be placed among the marine divinities. He patted 
for the fon of Jupiter; a title which he owed 
entirely to his own merit. He was fon of Hip- 
potes, lived in the time of the Trojan war, and 
reigned over the Eolian iflands, called before his 
time Vulcanian. They are feven in number. So 
little knowledge had the ancients of navigation* 
and fo great were the dangers of the fea, that to 
forefee and provide againft them, was thought 
beyond the reach of human power, Eolus pofFefT- 
ing a forefight, penetration, and knowledge fuperior 
to his contemporaries, by frequently foretelling the 
approach of ftorms, feemed to be fomething more 
than mortal. By attentively obferving the direc- 
tion in which the fmoke of the volcanoes was 
driven by the winds, he learned to diftinguifli thofe 
which blew moft violent, and were of longeft 
duration. It was by this means he forewarned 
Ulyflfes of the approaching alteration in the wea- 
ther, and wiflied him to defer his departure a iriort 
time. The air of confidence with which he gave 
this information made the companions of UlyfTes 
believe that he commanded the tempefts, ^nd 

could 



EOLUS AND THE WINDS. 231 

could reftrain them at the inftigation of their 
prince. However they determined to purfue 
their voyage, but foon had reafon to repent their 
rafh precipitation they were overtaken by a ftorrri 
and almoft all perifhed. The poets, according to 
their ufual cuftom, did not fail to celebrate this 
prediction of Eolus. They pretended that at the 
entreaty of UlyfTes, he had enclofed the winds in 
ikins, and committed them to the cuftody of that 
prince, but that his companions having impru- 
dently opened them, the winds now at liberty 
raifed the deep from its foundations, and fwal- 
lowed up his veiTel. The dread of thefe terrible 
divinities was fuch that no voyage was undertaken 
without offering them facrifices. 

The defcendants of Eolus, after having given 
feveral monarchs to Greece, fent colonies into 
Afia Minor, and having peopled the coaft there, 
afterwards paflfed into Italy. 

It is pretended by the poets that the winds were 
fons of Aurora and Aftrasus, one of the giants 
who waged war againft the gods. 

His children were as boifterous as himfelC 

The four principal gave their names to thr 
winds : 

The firft is Boreas, or the north wind. 
The fecond Aufter, or the fouth wind. 
The third Eurus, or the eaft wind. 
The fourth Zephyrus, or the weft wind. 

4 Boreas 



23 2 EOLUS AND THE WINDS. 

Boreas wifhed to efpoufe Orithyia, daughter of 
Ereclheus, king of Athens, but being refufed by 
that prince, he carried her off with his breath, and 
tranfported her into Thrace, where fhe bore him 
two fons, Calais and Zethis, of whom we mall 
fpeak in the expeditions of the Argonauts. 

The fable adds, that Boreas, metamorphofed into 
a horfe, had twelve colts of fuch extraordinary velo- 
city, that they ran on the furface of the waves 
without finking, and over fields of corn without 
bending its heads. 

This allegory is defcriptive of the fwiftnefs of 
the winds. 



END OJ THE FIRST PART. 



TERRES- 



TERRESTRIAL DIVINITIES. 



2 33 



TERRESTRIAL - DIVINITIES. 

T he disfigured and imperfect remem- 
brance of facred tradition was no longer fufficient 
to lead to a knowledge of the true God. Strength, 
number, and addrefs, fecured to man the empire 
of the earth he enjoyed it without gratitude, and 
thought only of indulging his inclinations and paf- 
fions. Yet, however great his pride, he perceived 
he had no authority over the elements, and that 
having constantly to ftruggle againft dangers which 
threatened his life, he needed fome friendly hand 
to fuccour and protect him. Pain, terror, and 
neceflity compelled him to believe that there 
exifted a power fuperior to his own he conde- 
fcended to implore it, but thinking he had a right 
to attach a price to his fervices, demanded in return 
provifion for all his wants. 

The idea of one only God, Supreme, Univerfal, 
the difpenfer of every bleffing, would have too 
much terrified him ; he divided his functions and 
his power, multiplied the number of gods, and 
attributing to thefe divinities of his imagination 
the paffions with which himfelf was agitated, 
thought that the more numerous his facrihxes the 
greater benefits he mould receive. 

It 



r$4 TERRESTRIAL BIVINITIgS. 

It was thus that man continually increafed the 
number of the celeftial, terreftrial, marine, and 
infernal deities. The earth itfelf became an object 
of adoration. Woods, plains, harvefts, fields, gar- 
dens, meadows, all had their prefiding divinity ; 
houfes had their gods, Lares, and Penates ; each 
of which had its honours, functions, and worfhip. 

They were at firft confidered as invifible beings, 
of a nature fuperior to the human fpecies but 
feme men having diftinguifhed themfelves by their 
improvements in agriculture, or by fome ufeful 
invention, their names were given to thefe un- 
known divinities, and quickly both were con- 
founded together. 

Among this prodigious number twelve were 
reckoned of an order luperior to the reft, and 
were called Confentes. They were different from 
the twelve principal deities mentioned in a former 
part of this work. 

Jupiter and Terra were the two firft. 

The Sun and Moon, whofe influence is fo great 
upon vegetation in general, were the fecond. 

Ceres, goddefs of corn, and Bacchus, god of 
wine, were the third. 

Robigus and Flora were the fourth ; the 
former preferving fruit from decay, and bringing 
it to maturity and the latter tending the growth 
of Bowers. 

Minerva and Venus were the fifth. — Minerva 

produced 



DEMOGORGON. 235 

produced the olive, and Venus prefided over 
gardens. 

The fixth and laft were Water and Bonus 
Eventus. The former, becaufe without it the 
earth is parched and barren; the latter, whofe 
name fignifies good fuccefs, attended to the pro- 
duction of abundant harvefts. 

Thefe were the principal terreftrial deities.— 
Their names and functions evidently prove that it 
is to the necefiities of man they are indebted for 
their origin and worfhip. 



DEMOGORGON. 

This allegorical divinity was the genius 
of the earth. Such fear and veneration did hts- 
name infpire, that no perfon durft pronounce it 
with a loud voice. Philofophers regarded this 
divinity as the fpifit of heat, which is the life 
and fupport of every plant. He was honoured by 
the people as a real deity. 

His form was that of a dirty old man covered 
with mofs, pale and disfigured, and he refided 
conftantly in the bowels of the earth. His 
companions were Chaos and Eternity. 

We think it incumbent on us to give part of 
the defcription of this obfcure and fingular divi- 
nity, as tranfmitted to us by the poets. 

Weary 



23O DEMO GORGON. , ' ' 

Weary and difgufted with his melancholy abode, 
he formed a bail, feated himfelf upon it, and riling 
into the air fixed the limits of the earth, and 
created the heavens. Faffing over the Acrocerau- 
nian mountains which vomit forth fire, he took 
from them fome flaming matter with which he 
formed the fun, placed it in heaven to illumine the 
world, and gave it in marriage to the earth. 

Their offspring were Tartarus and Nox. — 
Demogorgon, difturbed in his profound cavern 
by the pains and anguifh of Chaps, fent Difcord 
from the centre of the earth to inhabit the furface 
of it, and this was the fir ft of his children. In 
the fame manner he fent forth the three Fates 
the Serpent Python, Night, Tartarus, &c. &c. 

We mall dwell no longer upon the defcription 
of fo monilrous a brood; yet through this thick 
veil we have a faint glimpfe of the myftery of the 
creation, and fome disfigured traces of ancient 
tradition. The Arcadians were the firft who be- 
lieved the earth animated by a genius 5 it is from ' 
them he received the name of Demogorgon. 

The appellations of Ops and Tellus are indif- 
ferently applied to the earth, and frequently it was 
called by the names of the goddeffes Vefta, Ceres, 
Froferpine, Rhea, Diana, or Cybele ; but the moil 
ancient of all by which it was dlfiinguifhed was 
Tit2ea^ or Titaia, which fignifks mud or earthy as 

Uranus 



DEMOGORGON. grj/ 

Uranus fignifles heaven. Chaos alone was efteemed 
more ancient than heaven and earth. 

Of the different feafts which were celebrated in 
honour of the earth, that ftyled the feaft of the 
bounteous goddefs was fo famous, that we think it 
indifpenfably neceffary to give fome account of it. 

On the firft of May the Veftals went to the 
houfe of the high prieft to perform a facrifice to 
the bounteous goddefs, (a myfterious divinity 
whofe name was known to females only.) 

The preparations for this facrifice, (which was 
offered for the fafety and profperity of the Roman 
people,) were very coftly, and the mo ft aftonifh- 
ing circumfpection was obferved. The houfe 
in which this feaft was celebrated was fuperbly 
adorned, and, as it always took place in the night, 
the apartments were illuminated with a vail number 
of lights. The principal care confifted In pre- 
venting the approach of men. The mafler of the 
houfe, his children, and (laves, were excluded ; 
all the windows were carefully clofed, and even 
before the pictures of men, and male animals, a 
curtain was drawn. 

The fame veil which has concealed from us 
the myfteries of the Eleufinian Ceres covers from 
our fight thofe of the bounteous goddefs. 

It is impoffible to fpeak of them with any cer- 
tainty, and all the Roman hiitorians acknowledge 
their ignorance upon this joint. The conjec- 
tures 



TERMINUS. 

tures which have been made upon a fubjeft fb 
little known merit not the leafl confidence. The 
people were perfuaded that the goddefs would have 
punifhed with inftant blindnefs whoever mould 
dare attempt to difcover thefe myfteries. They 
were fometimes celebrated in the houfes of the 
confuls and chief magiftrates of the republic. 
The earth is generally reprefented under the 
form of a globe. , 



OF THE GOD TERMINUS* 

Respect for the facred right of pro-* 
perty can alone infure the peace and exhtence of 
fociety ; without this the weak would become a 
prey to the ftrong, and the earth would remain 
uncultivated ; for man never labours but under the 
certain afTu ranee that he (hall enjoy the fruits of 
his induftry. For this reafon, laws were inftituted 
which obliged individuals to mark out the limits of 
their refpedtive lands. 

Geres, the proteclxefs of hufbandry, is regarded 
by the ancients as the firft who eftablifhed land 
marks. Plutarch attributes this invention to 
Numa Pompilius ; but it appears certain that it is 
due to the celebrated Thaut, or the Egyptian 
Mercury, who by this means rectified the diforders 
occafioned by the overflowing of the Nile, 

i - Numa, 



TERMINUS* 239 

Numa, finding the laws eftablifhed for the fecu- 
rity of property infufricient, perfuaded the Roman 
people that there exifted a god, guardian of 
boundaries, and the avenger of ufurpation. He 
built a temple to him on the Tarpeian mountain, 
inftituted feafls to his honour, and prefcribed the 
form of his worlhip. He reprcfented this new 
divinity under the form of an immoveable rock. 
His feaft was called Terminalis, from Terminus. 
Milk, fruit, and a few cakes, were offered to him. 
Public facrifices were performed in his temple, 
and individuals facri fixed to him on their own 
lands. During thefe feafts thole whofe lands 
were contiguous prefented themfelves, each on his 
own fide, near the mark which feparated their 
grounds. This mark they adorned with a garland 
of flowers, and rubbed it with oil to render it 
more durable. At the conclusion of this innocent 
fefiival they facrificed lambs and young pigs, 
which afterwards ferved as a repaft for the two 
families united, and concord was invoked by all 
prefent. 

A circumftance which happened, contributed 
much to the credit of the god Terminus. 

Tarquin the Proud wilhed to erect on the 
Capitoline mountain the temple which Tarqurq 
the Elder had vowed to Jupiter. For this purpofe 
it was neceffary to difplace feveral frames and 
altars ; thefe were removed without any refiftance 3 

but 



i|6 FLORA, POMONA, VERTUMNUS, 

but the god Terminus, more firmly eftablifhed by 
Numa, braved all their efforts, and they were 
obliged to leave him in the middle of the temple 
they were cohftru&ing. 

The priefts pretended that all the other gods, 
from refpect towards Jupiter, had yielded their 
places, but that Jupiter himfelf, out of regard for the 
right of property, had permitted him a place in 
the middle of his temple. Such is the origin of 
the god Terminus. However, before the time 
of Numa, Jupiter was honoured under the name 
of Jupiter Terminalis ; and the Greeks had a 
divinity who prefided over limits, who was called 
Jupiter Horius. 

The mo ft folemn and facred oaths were thofe 
taken upon thefe ftones. In after ages, the god 
Terminus was frequently reprefented by a pyra- 
midal land mark, havii-g a head upon the top 
of it. 



FLORA, POMONA, VERTUMNUS, AND PRIA- 
PUS, THE GOD OF GARDENS. 

Flora was wife to Zephyrus, and goddefs 
of flowers. There appears to have been one of 
this name extremely ancient, whofe origin was 
unknown. The Romans honoured a fecond Flora, 

and 



AND PRIAPUS } THE GOD OF GARDENS. 24I 

and afcribed to her the worfhip rendered to the 
former, who probably was only an allegorical per- 
fonage. Acca Laurentia, a celebrated courtezan, 
bequeathed her immenfe property to the Roman 
fenate. This bequeft was accepted, but to con- 
ceal the fource from whence it came, they aflimi- 
lated Laurentia with this ancient Flora, and ho- 
noured her as the goddefs of groves and flowers* 
Her feafts gave rife to the Floral Games. 

Pomona., goddefs of orchards,, became the wife 
of Vertumnus, or Proteus, in the manner we have 
already mentioned. The fkill of this goddefs 
in the cultivation of fruit-trees and gardens, pro- 
cured her great reputation among the Romans, 
which was increafed by her uncommon beauty* 
She was placed in the Pantheon at Rome, but we 
find not the lead mention of her among the Greeks* 
Vertumnus her hufband, whofe name is derived 
from vertere, to turn or change, was the fymbol 
of the year, and of the variation of the feafons. 
He was frequently reprefented under the forms of 
a ploughman, a mower, a vine-drefTer, and that of 
an old woman ; to exprefs fpring, fummer, autumn 
and winter. By fome authors he is confounded 
with Janus 3 others, on the contrary, fay that he 
was a king of Etruria, celebrated for the pleafure 
he took in the cultivation of gardens, 

Pomona is reprefented under the form of a 
beautiful young female fitting upon a bafket of 

R fruit 5 



242 RURAL DEITIES. 

fruit ; in her lap me has apples, and round her ar& 
branches loaded with fruit. 

( Vertumnus is painted as a young man, holding 
fruit in one hand, and in the other a horn of plenty. 
He is only half covered by his drefs. 

Priapus was likewife regarded as the god of 
gardens ; he was faid to be the fon of Venus and 
Bacchus, born at Lampfacus. 

His hideous figure was generally employed in 
gardens, to terrify thieves and birds. 

The eaftern nations worfhipped him under the 
name of Baal Pegor* 



OF PALES, AND OTHER RURAL DEITIES. 

Pales was the goddefs of fhepherds, and 
protectrefs of flocks. Her feaft called Paliiia, or 
Parilia, was celebrated in the month of April, on 
which occafcon no victim was killed, nothing was 
offered but the fruits of the earth. The fhepherds 
purified their flocks with the fmoke of fulphur, 
olive wood, box, laurel and rofemary ; they then 
made a Are of ftraw, round which they danced, and 
afterwards offered to the goddefs, milk, cheefe y 
prepared wine and millet cakes. It was during 
this feaft that they commemorated the foundation 
of Rome, 

Anna 



RURAL DEITIES* 243 

Anna Perenna was another rural divinity of the 
fame rank as Pales. The pureft and moft rational 
pleafure, the livelieft and moft unaffected joy 
conftantly animated the feafts of thefe two god^ 
defies. 

Bubona* goddefs of herdfmen* was the tutelar 
deity of horned cattle. 

Mellona protected bees, for which purpofe the 
ftepherd Ariftieus was alfo fometimes invoked. 

Seia prefided over corn while yet in the ground, 
Segefta during the harveft, and Tutelina when 
ftored in barns. 

Robigus was invoked to preferve the corn from 
the mildew. 

Bonus Eventus, good fuccefs, was honoured 
with a particular worfhip s his ftatue, executed by 
Praxiteles, was placed in the Capitol; he was 
ranked among the number of the principal rural 
and terreftrial deities. 

Populonia, whofe name fignifies de variation* 
ravage, protected the fruits of the earth from hail 
and lightning. 

Pilumnus prefided over the grinding of corn 3 
and Picumnus over manure, 

Saturn likewife had the name of Sterculius, 
becaufe he firft taught the practice of enriching the 
ground with dung. 

Hippona was the goddefs of ftables and horfes % 
Collina was the tutelar deity of hills, 

r 2 Jugatinus 



544 SATYRS, FAUNS, AGYPANS, 

Jugatinus prefided over hillocks. 

All thefe divinities were invented by the Lat"ins 5 
and derived their names from their different occu- 
pations ; none of them are to be met with among 
the Grecian deities. 



OF SATYRS, FAUNS, /EGYPANS AND THE 
GOD PAN. 

Satyrs, Farms, and iEgypans, were all 
rural divinities, or rather demi-gods, whom the 
ancients fuppofed to inhabit forefts and mountains. 
They were called indifferently Pans, iEgypans, 
and Satyrs, and were reprefented as men of fmall 
ftature, bearing a great refemblance to goats. 
Thefe advanced in years were called Sileni. They 
were faid to be defcended from Mercury and the 
nymph Iphitenre, or from Bacchus and the nymph 
; Nicea, daughter of -Sangarius. It mould feem that 
thefe extraordinary deities owed their divinity to 
the fear and furprife occafioned on the firft appear- 
ance of apes. W e can reafonably attribute to them 
no other origin. 

Pan held the principal place among the moil 
ancient deities. By the poets he is called fon of 
Jupiter and the nymph Califto, or of Mercury and 
Penelope. 

He 



AND THE GOD PAN. 245, 

He is reprefented under the form of a Satyr, 
holding in his hand a flute called Syrinx. By the 
Arcadians this god was particularly worfhipped. 
In the month of February the Romans celebrated 
to his honour feafts called • Lupercalia, from the 
place confecrated to him by Evander, and where 
Romulus and Remus were fuppofed to have been 
fuckled by a wolf. 

His priefts were called Luperci. The real 
origin of Pan was extremely ancient. The Egyp- 
tians, after having paid divine honours to the Sun 
under the name of Ofiris, the Moon under that of 
Ifis, and the feveral parts of the univerfe under 
different names, adored the whole world collec- 
tively under the name of Pan, which fignifies all. 
They gave him a human figure down to the middle, 
to reprefent man, and the reft of his body repre- 
fented animals. The origin of the exprefTion Pa- 
nic is uncertain. Some authors attribute it to the 
fudden terror excited among the Gauls, by the 
god Pan, when under their general Brennus they 
were preparing to pillage the temple of Delphos. 
Others fuppofed it derived from the circumflance 
of the god Pan's inhabiting fore lis, in whofe folitary 
fhades when bewildered, we are alarmed and terri- 
fied at the leaft noife. 

The poets relate that the nymphs Echo, Syrinx, 
and Pythis were beloved by the god Pan. He 
was rejected by Echo for the beautiful NarcifTus, 
r 3 who 



246 SILENUS AND MIDAS. 

who having feen himfelf Jn a fountain, was fo ftruck 
with his own form, that he continued gazing on- it 
till he languished and died. 

Echo, inconfolable for his lofs, pined away with 
grief, but being immortal, fhe preferved her voice, 
which ihe employs in repeating every thing me 
hears. This fable may be ranked among the 
allegorical. 

Syrinx, a nymph of Arcadia, was in the train of 
Diana. Being one day purfued by the god Pan, 
fhe fled for refuge to the river Ladon, her father, 
who metamorphofed her into a reed. 

Pan having obferved that the wind in agitating 
the reeds produced a pleafing found, formed fome 
©f them ;nto a pipe which was called Syrinx. 
The nymph Pythis was more favourable to the 
vows of the god Pan; but Boreas, jealous of this 
preference, with a blaft of his breath precipitated 
her from the top of a rock. 

The gods changed her while falling, into a 
pins, which tree was confecrated to the god Pan, 



OF SILENUS AND MIDAS. 

, • Silenus, fofter-father of Bacchus, was 
the moft famous of the Satyrs. We lhall give 
the poetical and hiftorical account of this per- 

fonage, 



SILENUS AND MIDAS. 247 

fonage, fo confpicuous in the annals of antiquity. 
Fidlion and truth will unavoidably be fometimes 
blended together, but our readers will have no 
difficulty in diftinguifhing them from each other. 

Pindar informs us that Silenus was born at 
Malea, or at leaft was brought up there. He is 
generally feen mounted upon an afs, almoft always 
in a ftate of inebriety, with difficulty keeping his 
feat upon the beaft, and following Bacchus, whom 
he conftantly accompanied. 

Such is the idea commonly given us by the 
poets of Silenus ; but he is defcribed by more 
grave authors in a manner much more advan- 
tageous. 

They fay that Silenus was a philofopher of great 
learning and wifdom j that his pretended intoxi- 
cation was myfterious, intended only to exprefs 
his profound meditation when engaged in ftudy. 

The circumftances which led him to remain 
fome time with Midas, gave occafion to feveral 
ftories. 

Bacchus having quitted Thrace, when the un- 
happy Pentheus had been torn in pieces by the 
Bacchanalians, came into Lydia, near mount 
Tmolus, famous for its excellent vines. Silenus 
ufed to make excurfions into the country mounted 
upon an afs, and frequently retired to meditate or 
repofe by the fide of a fountain. Midas, king of 
the country, being acquainted with his great abili- 
r 4 ties* 



SILENUS AND MIDAS. 

ties, and having long wilhed to converfe with him, 
had him conveyed, during his fleep, to his own pa- 
lace, but being himfelf initiated into the myfteries of 
Bacchus, he received Silenus with great refpeci, 
and detained him only ten days and as many nights, 
to receive his inftru&ion and celebrate the orgies. 
At the expiration of this time, he would himfelf 
accompany him on his return to Bacchus. Here 
fiction begins. Bacchus overjoyed at the fight 
of his foiter-father, whofe abfence had given him 
great uneafinefs, promifed Midas whatever he 
fhould demand. Stimulated by a third for riches, 
he defired the power of converting whatever he 
fhould touch into gold. His requefl was granted, 
but foon he found its fatal confequences. Under 
his hand trees and ftones became gold, but fb 
-did likewife the food which he was preparing to 
eat. Impelled by hunger he again had recourfe 
to Bacchus, who told him to go and warn in the 
Pactolus, and from that time the fands of that river 
were found intermixed with gold. In this manner 
was hiftory disfigured by the poets, but we fhall 
dived it of its difguife, and reflore it to its fim- 
piicity. Midas was king of the country through 
which the Paclolus flows ; after the death of his father, 
Gordius, he prefented to the temple of Delphos 
a golden chain of ineftimable value. The gardens 
of this prince were very famous, and Silenus wi fil- 
ing to fee them, parled fome days with JVlidas, 

who, 



SILENUS AND MIDAS. Q^g 

who, though fovereign of a rich country, was 
economical even to parfimony. The fale of his 
corn, cattle and wine produced him immenfe 
fums, which gave rife to the ftory that his touch 
converted every thing into gold. Being informed, 
by Bacchus and Silenu3, that the fands of the 
Pa^olus contained gold, his avarice changed its 
object; he quitted his rural purfuits, and employed 
his fubjects in collecting gold; this occafioned 
the fable, that by warning his hands in the Pacto- 
lus he had communicated to it the property of 
producing gold. Midas, notwithstanding his 
attachment to riches, neglected nothing which 
concerned religion, good laws, or the happinefs 
of his fubjects. To acquire greater credit and 
authority, he pretended that Silerms inftructed him 
in the myfteries of the orgies of Bacchus; and 
he undoubtedly profited by his knowledge, and 
was guided by his directions in forming his efla- 
blimments, religious and political. In aid of the 
police of his kingdom, Midas employed ipies, or 
watchful officers; this occafioned it being faid, 
that he heard at a great diftance, and the dif- 
affected defcribed him with the ears of an afs. 
A few puniihments which he inflicted filenced 
their injurious reflections, and this gave rife to a 
fecond allegorical fable, in v/hich it is pretended 
that the barber of Midas not daring openly to 
decjare that he had feen thefe afs's ears, confided 

the 



|M OF FAUNUS AND SYLVAN US. 

the fecret to a marm, and that foon after the reeds, 
when agitated by the wind, produced this found ; 
* Midas has the ears of an afs.' That thefe two fables 
are allegorical is evident. The paffion of Silenus for 
wine, and his introducing the orgies into Lydia, oc- 
casioned him to be reprefented under the form of a 
man intoxicated. Serious authors however fay, that 
the afs upon which he was mounted was emblema- 
tical of the flow but certain progrefs of phiiofophy. 

Some authors confound Silenus with Marfyas, 
who was the celebrated performer on the flute ; 
flayed alive by Apollo for contending with him. 
This error arifes from the circumiiance of their 
both being iatyrs, and having lived at the fame 
time. After the death of Silenus he was honoured 
#s a demi~god, and had a woi-fhip independent of 
that paid to Bacchus. 

OF FAUInUS AMD SYLVANUS. 

Faun us, fon of Picus, lived in the 
time of Pandion^ king of Athens, and was con- 
temporary with Evander and Hercules. This 
prince was fo diftinguimed for his bravery and 
wifdom that he palled for the fon of Mars. 

The attention which he bellowed on hufbandry 
procured him the rank of a rural divinity and 
he is reprefented under the form of a fatyr. He was 

fuppofecj 



LARES AND PENATES, £51 

fuppofed to render oracles, but this proceeds 
from the etymology of his name ; fhonein in Greek, 
and fart in Latin, fignifying to fpeak. By the 
Romans, Faunia his wife, and Sylvanus his fon, 
were claffed among the rural deities. The latter 
name is derived from Jylva, a foreft. He prefided 
over woods, and is reprefented in the fame man- 
ner as the fatyrs, who were fuppofed to be his 
brothers. 

Picus, father of Faunus, was an accomplifhed 
prince ; he efpoufed the beautiful Canens, whofe 
Enchanting portrait is given us by Ovid. Having 
perilhed by an accident when hunting, and his 
body being never afterwards found, it was pre- 
tended that the enchantrefs Circe in defpair at his 
infenfibility, had metamorphofed him into a wood- 
pecker. Canens, inconfolable for the lofs of her 
hufband, never afterwards fpoke, but retired from 
human fight to the mod dreary folitude. As a 
reward for her tendernefs, it is pretended that fhe 
was translated to heaven by the Gods. 



OF THE GODS called LARES, and PENATES. 

These Gods prefided over empires, 
cities, highways, houfes, and individuals. They 
were divided into Lares Public, Domeftic, Rural, 

Hoftile, 



2^2 LARES AND P-ENATES. 

Hoilile, Marine, and thofe who prefided over the 
Highways. Their number was prodigious, and 
every one chofe his own at pleafure. Among thefe 
Gods were ranked die fouls of thofe who had faith- 
fully ferved the ftate ; and families placed among 
them the departed fpirits of their friends and 
relations. Their worfhip ccnfified only in keeping 
little figures in the moft retired part of the 
houfe thence called Lararium. Lamps, the fymbol 
of vigilance, were con fee rated to them, and their 
facrifice was that faithful animal the dog, When 
an infant quitted the ornament called bulla, it 
was depofited at the feet of thefe domeftic deities; 
and when a Roman family received any one by 
adoption (which was a circumfcance very common) 
the rnagifcrates appointed thofe who were to attend 
to the wo rlhip of the Lares, whom the adopted 
child feemed to have abandoned. 

During the public feafts of thefe divinities, which 
were called Compitalitia, little waxen figures 
were fu'ipended in the ftreets, and the Lares and 
Penates were entreated to make thefe the only 
objecTs of their difpleafure. 

The Romans fuppofed the Lares and Penates 
defendants of Jupiter and Larmida. The re- 
femblance between the names of Lares and Lar- 
mida, and the ignorance of their real origin, were 
the only eaufes of this genealogy. It appears that 
their worfhip was brought by JEneas from Phrygia, 

The 



LARES AND PENATES. 253 

The Lares and Penates of Laban, called in Scrip- 
ture Teraphim, were carried away by his fon- in- 
law Jacob. The Genii were likewife ranked 
among thefe divinities. Every man had two, one 
author of all good, the other of ail evil. 

Women had likewife their Genii, which were 
called Junones : Thefe Genii were not fuppofed 
to be pofTefTed of equal power; the genius of 
Antony was faid to dread the genius of Auguftus. 
They are reprefented as young men holding in 
one hand a drinking vefiel, and in the other a horn 
of plenty. Sometimes they appear under the 
form of ferpents. The forehead was principally 
confe crated to them. 

All perfons irlvoked their genius, particularly 
on their natal day. The ground was ftrewed 
with flowers, and wine was offered to them in 
cups. Every place had its particular genius. 
An opinion prevailed, that the whole univerfe 
abounded in {pints who regulated its movements. 
Plato, who mo ft enlarged this fyftem, fpeaks of 
Gnomes, Sylphs, and Salamanders. The firft 
inhabited the earth ; the fecond, air ; the third, fire $ 
but let us leave to the tales of the fairies the 
pkafure of particularly defcribing them. 



INFERNAL 



INFERNAL DEITIES* 



INFERNAL DEITIES. 

The idea of a god who punifhes vice 
and rewards virtue, is coeval with the world* 
The firfb man received it from the Almighty him- 
felf, and has tranfmitted it to his pofterity. In 
proportion as the diftance from the originals in* 
creafed, ideas became confounded, traditions cor- 
rupted, and idolatry reared its head ; but the dif- 
ference between vice and virtue was fo forcibly 
felt by fome men of fuperior wifdom to the reft, 
that they endeavoured carefully to preferve this 
neceffary reftraint, which alone can prevent gene- 
ral corruption. The more we examine into 
ancient traditions, the mere clearly we per- 
ceive the univerfal belief in the immortality of 
the foul. The mod criminal of all errors 
could alone raife doubts on this important truth ; 
but they are fo fully contradicted by the general 
voice of every confeience, and every nation, that 
to combat them is unnecefTary. 

Philofophers of every age have confirmed this 
truth, and poets by their defcriptions have endea- 
voured as much as pofiible to diffufe it. 

We learn from a fragment of Diodorus Siculus 5 
that the poetical fyftem of the infernal regions was 
taken entirely from the cuftoms adopted by the 
Egyptians before the interment of their dead. 
The Grecian Mercury, fays he, who took charge 

of 



INFERNAL DEITIES. S£j 

of departed fpirits, was the prieft whole office it 
was to receive the body of a deceafed apis; by 
him it was conducted to a fecond prieft, who 
wore a mafk reprefenting three heads, like thofe 
afcribed by the poets to Cerberus. The fecond 
prieft tranfported it acrofs the ocean, aeling as 
ferryman, and carried it to the city of the Sun, 
whence it was conveyed into the happy re- 
gions, inhabited by the fouls of the blefTed. The 
ocean, continues Diodorus, was the Nile itfelf, 
to which the Egyptians gave that name. The 
city of the Sun was Heliopolis. The happy re- 
gions here mentioned were the beautiful plains 
fituated in the environs of the lake Acherufa near 
Memphis. Here terminated the proceffion, and 
here were interred the dead bodies of theEgyptians. 

In all funeral ceremonies, the firfttlep was to fix 
the day appointed for the interment of this the 
judges were firfl: informed, and afterwards the 
relations and friends of the deceafed. 

His name was proclaimed in the moil public 
manner, and notice given that he was about to 
pafs the lake. Immediately forty judges aftem- 
bled, and proceeded to the banks of the lake, 
where they feated themfelves in the form of a 
circle. A barge was brought by the afilftants, 
and the pilot, called by the Egyptians Charon, 
took his ftation at the helm. Before the coffin 
was placed upon the barge, all thofe who had been 
3 injured 



9.^6 i INFERNAL DEITIES, 

injured by the deceafed were permitted to pre- 
fer their complaints. 

Kings themfelves were not exempt from this 
cuftom, and if there appeared to be juft grounds 
for the accufation, the judges pronounced fentence, 
by which the dead body was deprived of the rites 
of fepulture ; but he who could not fubftantiate 
his charge was liable to a heavy punifhment* 
When no accufation was preferred/ the relations 
of the deceafed laid afide their mourning, and 
commenced his funeral oration beginning with 
his infancy" and taking a furvey of his whole life, 
they extolled his juftice, piety and courage, and 
befought the infernal deities to admit him to 
the abodes of the bleffed. This was followed by 
the applaufes of the attendants, who united in his 
praifes, and felicitated him on having merited a 
pafiage to eternity in peace and glory. 

Such were the ceremonies which Orpheus had 
feen praclifed among the Egyptians, and upon 
which he founded his dcfcription of the infernal 
regions — making fuch additions as were conforma- 
ble to the Grecian cufcoms. The fame Diodorus 
adds, that to perpetuate their illuftrious actions 
they frequently embalmed their anceftors, and 
kept them in their houfes. So great was the re- 
fpect of the Egyptians for the dead, that they 
often preferved the bodies of thofe who, for debt 
or fame crime, were denied the rites of burial ; 

and 



i 



INFERNAL DEITIES, Qtf> 

and when their defendants became rich and 
powerful, they difcharged the obligations of their 
anceftors, cleared their memory from imputation, 
and interred them honourably. Embalmed bodies 
were fometimes given as fecurity for fums bor- 
rowed, and not unfrequently even their own 
bodies - 9 when thofe who failed in their engage- 
ments were devoted to infamy during their lives, 
and deprived of the honour of burial at their 
death, Notwithstanding the profound darknefs in 
which thefe ages were involved, it was generally 
believed, that after death the material body was 
refolved into duft and afhes ; but that the foul, the 
ipiritual part of man, returned to heaven. The 
Pagans diftinguilhed the foul from the mind.— 
The former they regarded as the receptacle of the 
latter, and fuppofed, that when feparated from the 
body, it defcended into the infernal regions. The 
poets were not>agreed upon the time which de- 
parted fpirits were to pafs in the Elyfian fields j 
fome fixed it at a thoufand years > but all regarded 
the punifhment of Tartarus as eternal. 

We think it incumbent on us to give the idea 
which the ancients entertained of Tartarus, which 
we fhall do by a fhort quotation from VirgiU 



S 



■ 

DESCRIP- 



2^8 



INFERNAL REGIONS* 



DESCRIPTION OF THE INFERNAL REGIONS. 

Before the gate of the infernal regions 
Pain and Sorrow have eflablimed their abode. 
Here is the refidence of pallid Difeafe, melancholy- 
Old Age, Terror/ Hunger the fuggeftor of fo 
many crimes/ Labour, Death, and Sleep his bro- 
ther. Here alfo is found War and Difcord, whofe 
fnaky locks are bound up with gory bands. Near 
this monfter are feen the Furies' iron beds. A 
hundred other monfters befiege the avenue to this 
fatal habitation. Such is the defcription of A ver- 
mis, the firft entrance to the infernal regions. Near 
this difmal cavern is a road leading to Acheron. 
Hither refort from all parts thofe fouls who are to 
pafs that river, when Charon receives into his bark 
thofe who have received the honours of burial; 
but inexorable to thofe who have not, they wander 
for a century on its folitary bank. 

After having paffed the river, another gate 
leading to the palace of Pluto prefents itfelfj 
this is guarded by Cerberus, a monfter with three 
heads, one of which is conftantly watching. On 
entering this feat of terror, we firft defcry the 
fouls of thofe who expired as foon as born the 
next we come to are thofe deprived of life by an 

unjuft 



INFERNAL REGIONS* 259 

unjuft fentence, or who terminated themfelves 
their own exiftence. A little beyond, wandering 
in a foreft of myrtle, are the fouls of lovers, 
victims to cruelty and defpair. On leaving thefe, 
we arrive at the abode of heroes, who nobly 
perifhed in the field of battle. Not far from this 
is feen the tribunal where juftice is difpenfed by 
Minos, iEacus and Rhadamanthus. iEacus and 
Rhadamanthus pronounce judgment, and Minos 
approves or alters it. 

A frightful noife attracts attention, and difcovers 
the dreary Tartarus, the eternal prifon, round which 
the flaming Phlegethon rolls his boiling waves, 
and Cocytus with its infectious miry marfhes fur- 
rounds it on every fide. 

Three marly walls with gates of folid brafs, fe- 
cure {till more this feat of forrow. Vain is evafion, 
vain the hope to efcape from hence by flight. 
There every ftep is watched by dire Tifiphone, 
chief of the furies, who, with her fillers, lames with 
whips of fcorpions the guilty wretch when judged 
by Rhadamanthus. No reft, no peace they find, 
but woe unending. 

Such is in part the defcription Virgil gives of 
the Infernal Regions. He adds that of the Elyfian 
Fields, which he reprefents crowned with an eter- 
nal fpring. 

It is eafy to perceive, that thefe Greek and 
Roman fables are only an imitation of the Egyp- 
s 2 tian 



a6o 



INFERNAL DEITIES. 



tian ceremonies, which they have embellilhed witfe' 
the ornaments of poetry. 



PLUTO, CERES, PROSERPINE AND OTHER 
INFERNAL DEITIES. 

Pluto, third fon of Saturn and Ops, with 
Proferpine governed the Infernal Regions. 

His principal names were Dis, Ades, Urgus 
and Februus. Dis and Ades, fignify riches, over 
which he prefided, becaufe they were contained 
in the bowels of the earth. Urgus, comes from 
the Latin word urgere> to impel j becaufe he con- 
flantly urged mortals towards their dirTolution 
and Februus, comes from Februare, to perform 
purifications, which were always performed in 
funeral ceremonies. The fceptre of Pluto was 
an inftrument with two points j in his hand he 
held the keys of his empire, to exprefs, that from 
thence none ever returned. The victims offered 
to him were generally black fheep. Pluto was 
the youngeft of the brothers of Jupiter. In the 
divifion of the world he had the eaftern countries, 
which extend to the ocean, and fixed his refidencc 
in the moft remote part of Spain. He there 
difcovered mines of gold and filver. As to work 
thefe it is ncceflary to defcend into the earth, it 

was 



INFERNAL DtlTIES. 261 

<#&s pretended that he had penetrated to the 
Infernal Regions, and taken poflefllon of them. 

Though Plutus was likewife the god of riches, 
he muft not be confounded with Pluto, a divinity 
by far his fuperior. Plutus was the fon of Ceres 
and Jafon; like Fortune he was reprefented 
blind, to mow that riches are difpenfed to both 
good and bad. 

The deformity of Pluto, and the gloominefs of 
his dominions, having procured him a repulfe 
from all the goddeffes, he complained to his bro- 
ther Jupiter, who gave him permiflion to choofe 
which he pleafed. Alarmed at the repeated mocks 
which proceeded from mount iEtna, he was afraid 
left by fome aperture light mould penetrate into 
his empire. To inform hirnfelf more particularly 
he paid a vifit to Sicily, and it was in this excur- 
fion he met with Proferpine, daughter of Ceres. 
This princefs, attended by her companions, was 
amufing herfelf with gathering flowers, when me 
was perceived and carried off by Pluto. Cyane 
endeavouring to oppofe him, was changed into 
a fountain and the fovereign of hell opening the 
earth with a blow of his fceptre, difappeared in an 
inftant, carrying with him the daughter of Ceres. 

We have already feen in the hiftory of that 
goddefs, the excefs of her forrow, and the coun- 
tries Ihe traverfed in fearch of her loft child. 

That the Ceres of the Greeks was the fame as 
s 3 the 



262 



INFERNAL DEITIES. 



the Egyptian Ifis, there remains no doubt; their 
myfteries were the fame, and they were introduced 
among the former by oriental colonies. 

During the reign of Eredtheus there happened 
a dreadful famine in Greece. This was particu- 
larly felt by the Athenians, whole foil was naturally 
infertile. Ere&heus formed the refolution of 
fending into Egypt, from whence his emiffaries 
returned with a great quantity of corn, and the 
method of cultivating it: they at the fame time 
brought with them the worfhip of the divinity 
who prefided over agriculture. The calamity 
they had juft fullered, and the- fear of feeing it 
again return, engaged them to adopt the myfteries 
of this goddefs. At the fame time thefe religious 
ceremonies were received by Triptolemus, king 
of Eleufis, who would himfelf be prieft of Ceres 
or Ifis 5 and as a mark of gratitude for the return 
of plenty, by means of agriculture, in affifting his 
neighbours he carefully inftrucled them in the 
labours of Ceres, and endeavoured to introduce 
her worfhip among them. 

This is the origin of the fable concerning Ceres 
and Triptolemus. It was pretended that Ceres 
came from Sicily to Athens j and added, that her 
daughter Proferpine was carried off by violence, 
becaufe for fome time they experienced a dearth 
of provifions. Pluto was fuppofed to have taken 
her to the infernal regions, to exprefs the time 

which 



TRANSMIGRATION. 263 

which the feed remained in the earth ; and Jupiter 
is reprefented reconciling this difference between 
Pluto and Ceres, to mow the return of plenty and 
fertility. 

Some learned men are of opinion that Ceres 
was queen of Sicily, that fhe went to Attica to 
inftrucl; Triptolemus in the art of husbandry, and 
that it was her daughter who was carried off by 
Pluto king of Spain. 

The rape of Proferpine is likewife fuppofed to 
be an allegory, intended to reprefent the feafon 
during which the grain remains in the earth, and 
that in which it vegetates. 



OF TRANSMIGRATION. 




hen fouls had left the body which 



they animated, they were by Mercury conducted 
either to Tartarus or the Elyfian Fields 5 the 
wicked to the former, the juft to the latter. It 
was almoft univerfally believed, that after remain- 
ing a thoufand years in thofe delightful abodes, 
the foul returned upon earth to animate other 
bodies, either of men or animals. Before they 
quitted the infernal regions they drank the waters 
of Lethe, which had the property of effacing from 
the memory pall events. 

s 4 This 



264 JUDGES Of THE INFERNAL REGIONS* 

This idea owes its origin to the Egyptians 5 
it is in imitation of them that Orpheus, Homei 
and other poets, have introduced it into their 
writings. 



OF THE JUDGES OF THE INFERNAL RE, 
GIONS, FURIES AND FATES. 

Three judges examined at their tribunal 
the fouls conducted by Mercury to the infernal 
regions. 

Minos, king of Crete, and fon of Afterius, was 
the firft. He wilhed to be thought the fon of 
Jupiter and Europa, and to obtain this, he pro- 
mifed to facrifke to Neptune the firft object he 
Ihould receive from the ocean. 

At that inftant he faw a beautiful white bull make 
to land. Unwilling to facrifice fo fine an animal, he 
preferved it for the head of his flock. Neptune 
incenfed, revenged himfelf on Minos by infefting 
his family with troubles and misfortunes. Pan% 
phae his wife involved him in dreadful calamities. 
He had by her three fons, and two daughters, 
much celebrated, Phaedra and Ariadne ; we fhall 
give the hiftory of thefe females when we come to 
treat of the demi-gods. 

Rhadamanthus was likewife fuppofed to be the 
fon of Jupiter and Europa. Obliged to fly from 
1 Crete 



FURIES AND FATES. 265 

Crete for having killed his brother, he retired to 
GEchalia, a city of Bseotia, where he married Ale- 
mena, widow of Amphitryon. 

JEacus, fonof Jupiter andiEgina, daughter of 
Afopus, was fovereign of the ifland Delos ; by 
his fecond wife, who was daughter to the cen- 
taur Chiron, he had Telamon and Peleus. His 
firft wife, Pfammathe, daughter of Nereus, 
brought him Phocus. 

Rhadamanthus was appointed judge of the Aria- 
tics JEacus of the Europeans - 3 and Minos, fuperior 
to both, was fupreme judge, and determined all 
doubtful cafes. The tribunal was held in a place 
called the Field of Truth ; which Falfehood and 
Calumny could not approach. The fuperi- 
ority of Minos was marked by a fceptre which he 
held in his hand, and near him was feen an urn, 
containing the fentences paflfed upon mortals, who, 
when guilty, were delivered over to the furies 
for punifhment. Thefe furies were three in num- 
ber — Tifiphone, Megara, and Aledto. 

They were faid to be daughters of Cupid and 
Nox. Their names fignify, rage, Daughter, 
and envy. They are reprefented with flaming 
torches in their hands, fnakes inftead of hair, and 
a whip of ferpents. 

The Greeks named them Erynnes, which fig- 
nines diflurbers of the mind. They were like- 
wife called Eumenides, mild, when Minerva had 

appeafed 



266 NEMESIS, THE MANES, 

appeafed them, and they had ceafed to torment 
Qrefles, who had (lain his mother. — The three 
Fates were likewife inhabitants of the infernal re- 
gions ; they were the daughters of Neceflity. It 
was they who fpun the days and deftiny of man. 
The youngeft, named Clotho, held the diftafT; 
Lachefis turned the fpindle, and Atropos, with 
her fatal fcirlars, cut the thread of life. The 
poets faid, that they fpun happy days with gold 
and filver, and days of forrow with black worried. 

The Fates are reprefented as three old women 
worn down with years. 

Clotho, in a robe of different colours, wore 
a crown of feven ftars upon her head, and in her 
hand Ihe held a diftaff, reaching from heaven to 
earth. The robe of Lachefis was covered with 
itars, and near her lay a number of fpindles. 

Atropos, clothed in black, held the fcifiars, 
and round her were numberlefs fpindles, more or 
lefs full, according to the long or Ihort duration 
of life. 



OF NEMESIS, THE MANES, NOX, SOMNUS, 
AND MORS. 

Nemesis prefided over the punifhment of 
crimes. She travcrfcd the earth with great vi- 
gilance 



NOX, SOMNUS, AND MORS. e6/ 

gilance in fearch of the wicked, whom me pur- 
fued even to the fhades below, and punifhed with 
inflexible feverity. 

She was reprefented with wings, a helm, and a 
chariot wheel, to mow that no place can fecure 
the guilty from her indefatigable purfuit. As 
daughter of Juftice me rewarded virtue, but 
punifhed, with relentlefs hand, impiety. 

The gods Manes were not clearly diftinguifhed 
by the ancients j they were frequently confounded 
with the fouls of the dead, and fometimes with 
the gods Lares. Thefe divinities however pre- 
fided over funerals, and departed {pints, who were 
fuppofed to wander about the tombs. 

Nox, or Night, was daughter of Chaos, fhe 
was reprefented in a long black veil befpangled 
with ftars, tr averring the van: expanfe of the 
firmament in a chariot of ebony fometimes £he 
is feen without a chariot, wearing a veil which 
floats in the air, as fhe approaches the earth, to 
extinguish a torch which fne held in her hand. 

Somnus, or Sleep, fon to Nox, and brother of 
Mors or Death, is reprefented under the figure of 
a child in a profound fleep, holding in one hand 
poppies, which likewife ferve for his pillows 
and near him is a vefTel full of foporiftTcus liquor. 

Mors, or Death, daughter of Nox, and fifter 
•to Somnus, is reprefented under the hideous form 
of a fkeRfqr*] her black robe is covered with 

ftars, 



t68 CHARON, CERBERUS, 

tors, me has wings of an enormous length, and 
her flemleTs arm is furnimed with a fcythe, 

OF CHARON, CERBERUS, AND THE RIVERS 
OF HELL. 

Charon, whofe name fignifies anguifh, 
was, according to the poets, fon of Nox and 
Erebus. 

His difpofitionwas gloomy and fevere. Neither 
dignities nor riches obtained refpedt from him. 
Charged with the care of tranfporting fouls to 
the infernal regions, he was inflexible in reject- 
ing thofe who had not received the rights of bu- 
rial. A century they wandered on this lonely 
bank before they gained admiflion to his fatal 
bark. So perfuaded were people that he would 
require a paffage fee, that they always placed a 
piece of money under the tongues of the dead. 
This piece of money was called naulum : for 
kings it was generally gold. It was neceifary 
likewife to have an atteftation of the good life and 
conducl of the deceafed under the hand of the 
high-prieft. 

We have received from the ancients the form 
of this atteftation : 

" I Amitius Sextus, high-prieft, do certify, 

« that 



AND THE RIVERS Ot HELL, 2§9 

" that the life and conduct of N. has been 
<c perfectly unexceptionable. Let his Manea 
<f enjoy peace/' 
This cuftom was an exa6t imitation of that of 
the Egyptians. 

Cerberus, guardian of the infernal regions, had 
three heads ; for hair his neck was furrounded 
with fnakes. He fprung from Typhon and Echidna. 

When Orpheus went to requeft of Pluto the, 
reftitution of his wife Eurydice, he lulled this 
monfter to fleep with his lyre. When Hercules 
defcended to thefe dreary manfions to deliver 
Alcefte, he bound Cerberus and compelled him 
to follow him. It is faid that palling through 
ThefTaly, the fight of day made him vomit his 
venom upon the grafs, which rendered it mortal 
to whatever tailed it. This fable alludes to the 
vaft quantity of poifonous herbs which that coun- 
try produces. The fable of Cerberus was like- 
wife founded upon a cuftom of the Egyptians, who 
guarded their dead by means of maftifEs. 

There were five principal rivers in the domi- 
nions of Pluto. The firft was Acheron, driven 
there for having quenched the thirft of the Titans 
in their war againft Jupiter. Its name fignifies 
anguilh or howling. This river is in Theiprotia, 
rifes in the marfh of Acherufa, and empties itfelf 
into the Adriatic Gulph near Ambracia. The 
fecond is Cocytus, which fignifies tears, groans ; 

ic 



ZJO CHARON, CERBERUS, &C. 

it is faid to be formed by the tears of the con- 
demned. This was likewife a river of Epirus, 
or rather Thefprotia, emptying itfeif into the 
marm. Acherufa it was rather a miry pool than 
a river. 

Styx is the third — This is a fountain of Arcadia 
which flows from a rock, and forms a rivulet 
which finks under ground. Its water was of a 
poifonous quality, which occafioned the poets to 
fay, that it was one of the rivers of hell. 

Fabulous hiftory makes Styx a daughter of 
Gceanus, and mother of Victoria or Victory. She 
afTifced Jupiter in his war with the Titans. 

The Hydra was faid to be her offspring. So 
much terror did her name infpire, that the mofc 
inviolable oath was fworn by the river Styx. The 
gods themfelves could not infringe it ; if they did, 
Jupiter commanded Iris to prefent them with a 
cup, filled with the waters of this fountain, dif- 
miffed them from his table during twelve months, 
and even deprived them of their divinity for nine 
years. When fwearing by this river, they placed 
one hand upon the earth, and the other upon the 
ocean. 

The word Styx fignifies water of filence. The 
waters of this fbrearn were likewife ufed for the 
purpofe of determining the innocence or guilt of 
accufed perfons. Thefe are the principal circum- 
ftances which gave rife to the flories concerning 

" \ this 



ELYS I AX FIELDS. 1271 

this river. In general all waters of a poifonous 
quality were accounted rivers of hell. It was the 
fame with Avernus, a lake of Italy, near Pozzuoli, 
and Lethe, or the river of Oblivion, fituated in 
Africa. The poets attributed to the latter the 
property of inducing an oblivion of paft events. 
This conftituted the fourth. — Phlegethon, which 
was the fifth, had waves of flaming fire. The 
waters of this marfh exhaled fulphureous vapours, 
and its mud was hot and burning, which caufed it 
to be claffed among the infernal rivers. 



OF THE ELYSIAN FIELDS. 

mail not enter into a particular de- 
fcription of the Elyfian Fields ; each poet de- 
fcribes them according to his own imagination, 
and invents whatever he thinks moil capable of 
p leafing, leaving his readers like wife at liberty to 
make their own additions. We mall only obferve, 
that the ancients generally placed thefe happy 
man-fions in the ifles now called the Canaries. It is 
probable, that the idea of the Elyfian Fields was 
firft taken from the tradition of the terreftrial 
paradife. 



OF 



WORSHIP OF THE INFERNAL DEITIES* 



OF THE WORSHIP PAID TO THE INFERNAL 
DEITIES, 



cverraifed; they were referved for the terreftrial 
and marine deities, who were called fuperior gods, 
as thofe of the infernal regions were called inferior. 
Trenches were made, into which was poured the 
blood of victims, which were always of a black 
colour. The priefl during the prayers lowered 
his hands towards the earth, inilead of raifing them 
towards heaven. Being regarded as implacable, 
thefe divinities were in general the objects of fear 
and averfion : never were they implored for their 
afliftance $ to appeafe them was all that was fought. 
No hymns were cornpofed to their honour, no 
temples dedicated to them, nor any advantage 
expected from the prayers addrerTed to them. Their 
power in hell was equally abfolute with that of 
Jupiter in heaven. 



OF THE PRINCIPAL CRIMINALS PUNISHED 
IN THE INFERNAL REGIONS. 



i he Titans were precipitated into Taf^ 
tarus for having waged war againft Jupiter. The 
fable defcribes them whelmed under mount iEtna, 

Typhon, 



o thefe terrible deities no altars were 




Birrd sc. 



CRIMINALS PUNISHED, &C. 

Typhonj the moft enormous of them, lies ftretched 
tinder Sicily ; his right arm anfwering to PeloruS" 
lituated towards Italy, and his left to Pachinum, 
towards the eaft: his feet are to the weft, towards 
JLybia. Ovid attributes the earthquakes which" 
happen in Sicily to the ftruggles he makes- to 
difengage himfelf ; and the eruptions of mount 
JEtna, are his efforts ftill to aflault heaven.-' 
Sifyphus is compelled to roll an enormous ftone 
to the top of a mountain, whence k defcends 
the moment it touches the fummit. He was 
accufed of having attempted to deceive Pluto \ 
and by returning upon earth to render himfelf 
immortal. We learn from hiftory, that during mY 
youth he recovered from a dangerous diforder, 
and afterwards lived to an advanced age. Sal- 
moneus, king of Elis, wifhed to be thought equal: 
to Jupiter j by driving a chariot lighted with flam- 
beaus over a brazen bridge, he attempted to imi- 
tate thunders but Jupiter with this formidable 
weapon drove him headlong into Tartarus. 

Phlegyas, for having burnt the temple of Apollo* 
fees an enormous rock fulpended over his head, 
and ready by its fall to crufh him to pieces* His 
eternal lamentations ferve to terrify the fouls of 
the guilty. 

The giant Tityus 3 whofe body extended over 
nine acres, having dared infult Latona, Apollo 
flew him with his arrows, and caft him into the 

T infernal 



CRIMINALS PUNISH£0 

infernal regions, where a vulture continually preys- 
upon his liver. We muft remark, that the nine 
acres covered by the body of Tityus, fignify that 
the place allotted for his burial contained nine 
acres. 

Ixion having carried his prefumption fo far as 
to declare himfelf rival to Jupiter, was hurled 
headlong into hell, and bound fall to a wheel fur- 
rounded with ferpents. 

Tantalus, king of Phrygia, was fon to Jupiter 
and the nymph Plota. His crime is differently 
reported i fome fay that he difcovered to the 
river Afopus the place where Jupiter had con- 
cealed his daughter iEgina, when he carried 
her off ; others, that he fuffered a dog to be 
ftolen that Jupiter had confided to his care, 
and which guarded his temple on the ifland of 
Crete ; others again fay, that having been ad- 
mitted to the table of the gods he had divulged 
their fecrets, and ftolen nectar to regale his friends ; 
but the general opinion of his offence was as fol- 
lows : The gods having honoured Tantalus with 
a vifit, he wilhed to try if they could detect an 
impofition; for this purpofe he barbaroufly mur- 
dered his fon Pelops, and intermixed his limbs 
with the difhes that were ferved up to the gods. 
At fight of this horrible repaft they te (tilled their 
indignation ; but Ceres was fo wholly taken up with 
grief for the lofs of her daughter Proferpine, that 



m THE INFERNAL REGIONS. 275 

fiie did not perceive the fraud., and eat one moulder. 
The gods reftored Pelops to life, and Jupiter 
replaced with a moulder of ivory that which had 
been eaten by Ceres. To punifh Tantalus for 
this twofold offence againft the gods, and againft 
the tendernefs of a parent, he was driven to the 
infernal regions, where he continually experienced 
the molt parching thirft and ravenous hunger. 
To increafe his punifhment, he is plunged in water 
up to the chin, but no fooner does he attempt to 
quench his thirft than the water retires. The 
moll tempting viands furround him on every fide, 
but retreat beyond his reach on his offering to 
grafp them. The learned are of different opinions 
concerning the explanation of this fable; fome 
think it an allegory defcriptive of avarice. Tan- 
talus perifhing in the mid ft of the greateft plenty, 
reprefents the mifer, who, loath to leffen his riches, 
fuffers himfelf to pine with want and mifery but 
we have no explanation of the barbarity of Tan- 
talus, nor does hiftory mention any thing fatisfac- 
tory concerning the murder of Pelops. 

Among the principal criminals we muft remark 
the Danaides, condemned to fill with water a tub 
which has no bottom. The ftory of this fpecies 
of punifhment, has no other foundation than the 
cuftom obferved by the Egyptians at Memphis. 
Near the lake of Acherufa, beyond which was the 
burial place of the dead, the priefts poured water 
T 2 into 



2?6 CRIMINALS PUNISHED, &C* 

into a tub without a bottom, to exprefs the impoflS- 
bility of returning to life. The account given us 
by the poets of the crime by which the Danaides 
incurred this puniihment, is as follows : 

Danaus and .ZEgyptus, fons of Belus, were de~ 
fcended from Jupiter and the nymph 16. .ZEgyptus 
took porTeffion of the kingdom, which ever after 
bore his name. Danaus, his brother, being forced 
to fly, afTembled his followers, and arriving near 
Argos, attacked and dethroned Sthenelus king of 
that country. By different wives he had fifty 
daughters. His brother iEgyptus like wife had 
fifty fons. Thefe princes hearing of the power 
and good fortune of Danaus, demanded and ob- 
tained his daughters in marriage ; but this con- 
queror of Argos, cruel and fufpicious, having 
learned from the oracle that he mould expire by 
the hands of one of his fons in law, and eager to 
revenge the injuries he had received from his 
brother, iEgyptus, ordered his daughters to maffa- 
cre their hufbands the firfl night of their nuptials. 
All but Hypermneftra obeyed this barbarous 
injunction. She informed her hufband, Lynceus, 
of it, who fled to Lyrceum, not far from Argos, 
and Ihe efcaped to LarifTa. On their arrival in 
thefe two cities,- they placed lighted flambeaus on 
„ the top of the higheft towers, to mow that they 
were out of danger. 
Lynceus afterwards affembled troops, made war 

upon 



PARTICULAR SPECIES OF DIVINITIES. ±yy 

Aipon Danaus and gained pofTeflion of his throne* 
The poets to record this hifborical fact, and 
embellifh it according to their cuftom, invented 
the punifhment of the Danaides, as we have juft 
related it. We likewife find in Tartarus, CEdipus, 
Eteocles, Polynices, Thefeus and feveral others of 
whom we mall fpeak under the article of heroes 
and demi-gods. 



DIVINITIES OF A PARTICULAR SPECIES. 

To enumerate and defcribe all the obfeure 
divinities of the ancients, would be impoflible. 
They deified virtues, paflions, bleffings and misfor- 
tunes ; we mall only fpeak of thofe moft generally- 
known. 

The Greeks honoured felicity under the name 
of Eudomia, or Macaria. The Athenians hav- 
ing learned from the oracle that they mould be 
victorious if one of the children of Hercules 
mould voluntarily die. Macaria, who was his 
daughter, made that facrifice, and the Athe- 
nians having conquered, out of gratitude ho- 
noured her as a divinity, under the name of Maca- 
ria, which fignifies happinefs. It was not till long 
after the foundation of Rome that this deity was 
acknowledged by the Romans. Lucullus raifed 
a temple to her, after the war with Mithridates 
t 3 and 



&J% PARTICULAR SPECIES OF DIVINITIES. 

and Tigranes. She was reprefented as a queen, 
feated upon a throne, holding a horn of plenty 
with this infcription: 

" THE PUBLIC HAPPINESS." 

Hope, the lafl refource of mortals again ft the 
evils which opprefs them, was foon transformed 
into a divinity. By the Greeks ifhe was honoured 
under the name of Elpis ; by the Romans fhe was 
called Spes Puhlica, the Public Hope. Cicero 
fays that Hope was immortal, and that none but 
the virtuous had any claim to her affiftance. At 
Rome Ihe had feveral temples. She is reprefented 
with a horn of plenty, fruits, flowers and a bee- 
hive; mariners reprefented her leaning upon an 
anchor. Eternity had neither temples nor altars j 
fhe was fimply reprefented under the figure of ari 
old woman, with an infcription importing, that 
her name was Eternity. In her hand fhe held a, 
head, reprefenting the fun furrounded with rays 3 
or one reprefenting. the moon, becaufe thefe were 
fuppofed to be eternal. She was reprefented un- 
der the form of a phcenix, an imaginary bird, 
which receives new life from its own allies; fome- 
times under that of a globe, becaufe it has no 
limits; frequently as a ferpent, which by joining 
its tail to its mouth forms a circle ; and not unfre« 
quently under that of an elephant, from the long 
life of that animal; which Ihows the faint idea 

which 



PARTICULAR SPECIES OF DIVINITIES. 279 

which the ancients had of eternity. All the ge- 
nealogies of their gods prove that they could 
not conceive the divinity without beginning or 
without end. 

Time was reprefented by Saturn: he is painted 
with wings, to mow how rapidly he pafles, and 
with a fcythe, expreffive of the ravages he makes. 
There were feveral divilions of times ages; gene- 
rations, or the fpace of thirty years; luftra, or the 
fpace of five years; the year and feafons: of the 
latter there were originally but three, fummer, au- 
tumn and winter; to thefe was added fpring. The 
poets perfonified day break, fun rife, noon, evening, 
twilight and night, each of which was reprefented 
by a male or female, according as its name was 
jnafculine or feminine. 

Thought was deified, and invoked to prefent 
• only good ideas to the mind. • 

Every fpecies of piety received divine honours. 
M. Attilius Glabrio raifed a temple to filial piety, 
on the foundation of that houfe which had been 
inhabited by the Roman lady who had nourilhed 
her father in prifon. 

The Athenians raifed altars to Companion, the 
Romans imitated them and gave thefe temples the 
name of Afylum. Virtue, which can alone infure 
happinefs, was adored by the ancients, and we yet 
find in the fourth book of the city of God, by .St. 

T 4 Auguftine 3 



SSO PARTICULAR SPECIES OF DIVINITIES.. 

Auguftine, fome traces of the worfhip which was 
rendered to it. 

Scipio, who deftroyed Numantia, firft confecratecj 
a temple to this divinity. Marcellus wiflied to 
unite in the fame temple Virtue and Honour, but 
on confulting the priefts, they declared that two 
fuch great divinities could not be contained in one 
temple : in confequence Marcellus conftrufted two, 
adjoining to each other, fo that to enter the temple 
of Honour it was necefiary to pafs through the 
temple of Virtue ; this was intended to fliow, that 
true honour is only to be attained by virtuous 
means. In all facrifices to Honour, the head was 
uncovered, $nd every mark of the more profound 
refpecl obferved. Truth was fuppofed to be the 
mother of Virtue, and daughter of Time ; Ihe was 
reprefented as a young virgin covered with a robe 
white as fnow. 

Democritus, to exprefs the difficulty of difco- 
vering it, faid, that truth lay concealed at the bot- 
tom of a well. 

Concord, Peace and Tranquillity, were three 
different goddeffes. The authority of Concord 
extended over houfes, families and cities 5 that of 
Peace over empires. Suetonius fays, that in the 
temple of Peace were depofited the riches brought 
from the temple of Jerufalem. Jn the fame temple 
they lijtewife afiembl^d all thofe who profeffed the 

arts, 



PARTICULAR SPECIES OF DIVINITIES, 281 

§rfs, when they had their rights and privileges to 
maintain, in or<der to banifh from their difputes 
all heat and animofity by the prefence of the god- 
defs of Peace. 

She was reprefented under the form of a woman, 
crowned with laurel, olive and rofes. In her hand 
fiie holds the caduceus and fome ears of corn, 
emblematical of the abundance me produces. 
Her companions were Venus and the Graces, 

Fidelity prefided over fincerity in treaties, and 
equity in commerce. The mod inviolable of 
oaths was that taken in her name, or in the name 
of Jupiter Fidius. It is generally believed t 
Numa Pompilius was the founder of her firfc tbm-s 
pie. This goddefs is ufualiy reprefented by two 
women, in the act. of joining hands. 

Liberty, that idol of the Roman people, could 
not fail of being erected into a divinity ; and 
accordingly we find feveral temples to her honour. 
She was reprefented reclining upon a table of the 
laws, having in her hand, to defend them, a fword 
with this infcription: 

" THEY SECURE THE LIBERTY OF ALL." 

Licentioufnefs was reprefented ftruck with z, 
thunderbolt from heaven, at the moment fhe was 
attempting to break one of thefe tables and the 
balance of juftice. 

Silence had his altars 3 by the eaftern nations 

he 



£$2 PARTICULAR SPECIES OF DIVINITIES. 

he was adored under trie name of Harpocrates, 
but the Romans worfhipped it as a goddefs, which 
they called Angerona. The latter had likewife 
the god of Speech, which they ftyled Aius 
Loquutius. 

Temples were raifed to Modefty. She was 
reprefented under the form of a woman veiled, or 
of a woman pointing to the forehead with her 
finger, to exprefs that there was neither reproach 
nor Ihame. 

Providence was reprefented by a woman leaning 
upon a pillar, holding in her left hand a horn of 
plenty, and with her right pointing to a globe, to 
teach us, that her care extends over the whole 
univerfe, and that it is fhe who dilpenfes every 
ble fling. 

Juftice was reprefented as a young female, hold- 
ing a balance equally poifed in one hand, a naked 
fword in the other, and having a bandage over her 
eyes 5 fhe was feated upon a large ftone, ready 
to punifh vice and re ward virtue. 

Fortune prefided over good and evil. She was 
reprefented under the figure of a woman, blind, 
and aim oft bald, having wings to her feet, one 
of which is placed upon a wheel turning with 
great velocity, the other waves in the air. 

Opportunity was reprefented in the fame man- 
ners fhe had a lock of hair upon her head, to 
prefentthe means of being feized. 

Palenefe 



PARTICULAR SPECIES OF DIVINITIES'. .^3 

- Palenefs and Fear. Men (truck with the-ap- 
pearance of events which infpired them with ter^ 
ror, and ignorant of the caufe whence they pro- 
ceeded, addrefTed even the agitation of their minds 
as a divinity, and offered it their prayers and 
fupplications for deliverance from their apprehen* 
fions. It is impoffible to fix the period when this 
worfhip began. 

In battle the god Mars was attended by Fear 
and Flight. The Corinthians, having maffacred 
the two fons of Medea, were vilited with a pefti- 
lence which carried off great part of their children. 
On confulting the oracle, they were ordered to 
facrifice to the offended manes of thefe innocent 
victims, and at the fame time to raife a ftatue to 
Fear. She was reprefented with hair erect, in the 
attitude of looking upwards, her mouth extended, 
and a troubled afpecl. 

Palenefs was reprefented with a long emaciated 
countenance, fixed look, and drooping locks. 

The Lacedemonians placed the temple of Fear 
near the Ephori, in order to infpire criminals with 
the dread of fevere punifhment. In pronouncing 
an oath, Fear was always named with the other 
gods. It would be equally tedious as ufelefs, to 
defcribe all this fpecies of divinities. In general 
the Romans, and the Greeks before them, honoured 
ss deities, Virtues, Vices, Paflions and even Extra- 
ordinary Events, Every one could create new 

gods 



2$4 PARTICULAR SPECIES OP DIVINITIES. 

gods at pleafure. When travellers in crofting a 
river or foreft, experienced any danger or furprife, 
they raifed an altar, adorned it with attributes and 
infcriptions, and thefe arbitrary monuments were 
refpected, and even adored by thofe whom Chance 
led that way. It will always be eafy to fupply the 
numerous lift which we have fupprerTed to avoid 
fatiguing our readers. The poets and ancients 
when they fpeak of thefe divinities, are particularly 
careful to defcribe their influence and effect, fo 
that they may at any time be recognized ; they will 
therefore at lead poiTefs the charms and ornaments 
of poetry. However, among the malignant divi- 
nities, we muft not forget Ate or Difcord. Driven 
from heaven by Jupiter, for endeavouring to fow 
diffenfion among the gods, fhe came to vent her 
fury upon earth. To this cruel goddefs were attri- 
buted wars, quarrels and domeftic difputes it 
was me who threw among the company aftembled 
to celebrate the marriage of Peleus the fatal apple, 
bearing the infcription, 

" TO THE MOST BEAUTIFUL." 

We have already faid, that me is continually 
fallowed by her Afters* the Prayers, to repair the; 
evils which fhe occafions, but being lame, they 
are conftantly outftripped by their more active 

lifter* 



Of 




Birrel sc. 



COM US AND MOM US. 



OF COMUS AND MOMUS. 

Com us prefided over entertainments and 
the pleafures of the table. He is only known by 
name : every artift is at liberty to reprefent him 
according to his own fancy. His name is derived 
from commejpiri, to eat together; or according to 
fome from a fort of fong well known to the ancients 
called Comos, which was fung during their repalis. 

Momus, fon of Somnus and Nox, was the god 
of Raillery and Repartee. Satirical to excels, 
neither the gods nor Jupiter himfelf were fecure 
from his flinging fhafts — His name comes from 
the Greek word momos y reproach. He blamed 
the gods for not having made an aperture in the 
fereaft of , man to diftinguLGi truth from falfehood, 



OF THE GODS OF MEDICINE. 

The name of Efculapius, whom the 
Greeks called Afclepios, appears ta be foreign 
to that nation, and feems derived from the 
oriental languages. It is certain that Efculapius 
was known in Phoenicia before the Greeks had any 
knowledge of him. 

Sanchoniatho, the moft ancient of the Phoenician 
3 authors, 



GODS OF MEDICINE. 



authors, fpeaks of an Efculapius, fori to Sydik i 
orthejuft, and a princefs of the family of the 
Titans. 

The celebrated Marfham, whofe opinion is an 
authority to the learned, mentions an Efculapius, 
king of Memphis he was brother to the firft 
Mercury, lived two hundred years after the deluge, 
and more than a thoufand before the Grecian Efcu- 
lapius. Eufebius likewife gives an account of an 
Egyptian Efculapius, a famous phyfician, who 
contributed greatly in propagating throughout 
Egypt the ufe of letters, which had been invented 
by Mercury. 

It is in Phoenicia and Egypt then we muft feek 
for the true Efculapius. Honoured as a divinity 
in both countries, his religious ceremonies were 
brought into Greece by means of colonies. They 
were firft eftablifhed in Epidaurus a city of Pelo- 
ponnefus, and foon after the Greeks pretended 
that he was ^originally of their country ; but as 
their mythology was very uncertain, his hiftory is 
differently related. According to the poets he 
was defcended from Apollo and Coronis, daughter 
of Phlegyas. Efculapius, the moment of , his 
birth, was expofed upon a mountain, where he was. 
nourifhed by a goat. The fhepherd who.dif- 
covered him, thought he faw the infant furrounded 
with rays of light, and carrying him home, deli- 
vered him to his wife Trigone by whom he was 
i brought 



GODS OF MEDICINEs £§7 

brought up. When able to fpeak, he was placed 
under the tuition of the celebrated Centaur Chiron. 
His genius, lively and penetrating, enabled him to 
make great progrefs in the knowledge of herbs, 
and the compolition of medicines. According 
to the cuftom of thofe times he pradtifed both 
furgery and phyfic, and attained fo great a degree 
of excellence that he was regarded firfl as the in- 
ventor, and afterwards as the god of medicine. 
The Efculapius, contemporary with Hercules and 
Jafon, accompanied them in the expedition of the 
Argonauts, and rendered them erTential fervice. 
A Ihort time after his death he was honoured as 
a divinity, and being placed in heaven, formed the 
fign called the dragon. His defcendants reigned 
over part of Meflina : it was thence that his two 
fbns, Podalirius and Machaon, went to the Trojan 
war. The poets pretended that the fkill of Efcu- 
lapius extended even to the railing of the dead - 3 
that Pluto complained of this to Jupiter, afferting 
that his kingdom became a defart; and that Jupi- 
ter 1 to appeafe his brother, crufhed the phyfician 
with a thunderbolt. We have already mentioned, 
that Apollo to revenge the death of his fon, flew 
the Cyclops with his arrows. At Epidaurus, 
lEfculapius was honoured fometimes under the form 
of a ferpent, and fometimes under that of a man. 
His ftatue, from the hand of Thrafimedes of Paros, 



was 



sS8 



GODS OF MEDICINE^ 



was like that of Jupiter Olympius at Athens, of 
gold and ivory, but not more than half the fize. 
He is reprefented fitting upon a throne, holding 
in one hand a wand, and repofmg the other upon 
the head of a ferpent. Round his temple were 
feen a number of pillars infcribed with the names 
of thofe who pretended to have received cures 
from him* The ferpent and the cock were par- 
ticularly confecrated to this deity. Efculapius 
was feigned to have proceeded under the form of 
a ferpent, from the egg of a crow. A man having 
found means to introduce one of thefe reptiles into 
the egg of a crow, depofited it in the foundation 
of the temple building to the honour of Efculapius, 
pretending that he found it there, and that it was 
Efculapius himfelf under that difguife. This flory 
gained credit with the people, who ran in crouds 
to pay their adoration to the god of health. The 
priefts of this deity being well verfed in the practice 
of medicine, and porTefiing the fecrets of Efculapius, 
difpenfed remedies to the fick, and attributed to 
their divinity all the honour of the cure. 

The ferpent became the fymbol of Efculapius i 
it was likewife that of prudence, a quality fo necef- 
fary in phyficians. Titus Livius relates, that the 
Romans being vifited by a pefbilence, were in-** 
ftructed by the facred books of the Sybils, to go 
and fetch Efculapius from Epidaurus, 

For 



GODS OF MEDICINE. 289 

For this purpofe they deputed ambafTadors, 
who received from the priefls a tame fnake, which 
they aflerted was Efculapius himfeif. 

It was folemnly embarked J and on the arrival of 
the vefTel at an Ifland in the Tiber, the reptile 
efcaped and concealed itfeJf among the reeds. 
Thinking the God had chofen this place for his 
abode, they raifed him a fupe/b temple on the 
fame fpot, and bordered the whole Ifland with 
fine white marble, giving it the form, or rather 
the plan of a large vefTel. It was thus that, in 
the four hundred and fixty-fecond year of the city, 
the worlhip of Efculapius was introduced at Rome. 

We mall not conclude our account of this fpecies 
of divinities without obferving, that the Greeks 
and Romans granted divine honours to friendlhip. 
The former called it Pbilia ; the latter reprefented 
it under the form of a young female, with her head 
uncovered, clothed in a Ample drefs, having this 
infcription at the bottom : 

" LIFE AND DEATH." 

On her forehead was written fC Winter and fum- 
mer." In her hand fhe held a fcroll, infcribed 
cc Far and near." 

Thefe expreffions and fymbols fignify that friend- 
lhip is ever young, is the fame at all times, in 
abfence and in prefence, in life and in death that 
Ihe fears no dangers in ferving a friend, and that 
U for 



29O DEMI-GODS AND HEROES. 

for him me has no fecrets. This laft idea was ex- 
preffed by one of her hands placed upon her 
heart. This picture, eloquent as it is, does not 
equal the expreffions of Montagne, when bewail- 
ing the death of a friend he fays, e Since thou art 
gone, all to me is forrow and regret our hearts, 
our minds were one $ we mingled our tears, our 
griefs were fhared, our pleafures doubled, but 
now, my woes receive the addition of thy lofs, 
and if fome tranfient joy furprize my mind, I 
reproach myfelf, and think I rob thee of thy 
part,' 

OF DEMI-GODS AND HEROES, 

PRELIMINARY REFLECTIONS* 

In our preliminary reflections <We have 
already faid that the firft families feparated, and 
that numerous colonies having long travelled in 
hopes of finding more happy abodes, quickly 
funk into the grofiefl: depravity. 

Thefe colonies carried with them only a faint 
remembrance of ancient traditions every day 
diminimed their knowledge of the true God $ the 
impetuous movements of the paffions became the 
only guides* and man, being thus degraded, hurried 

on 



DEMI-GODS AND HEROES. . £95 

on from error to error, till he at laft arrived at that 
dreadful condition, when the belief in ajuftand 
powerful God, the difpenfer of rewards and punifh- 
ments, becomes only a fource of terror to the 
wicked. . It was then the guilty wretch, alarmed at 
every danger, at every peal of thunder, invoked 
the aid of doubt to fnatch him from his cruel frate, 
and dared advance that horrid blafphemy — . 
cc There is no God." , 

This laft reftraint once broken, ignorance and. 
barbarity concluded what fin had begun. The 
degeneracy of parents was increafed in their cor- 
rupted offspring. Virtue and Truth, unwelcome 
guefts on earth, returned to heaven, and left their 
place to Vice. Slaves to their defires, no bounds 
reftrained them. This ftnful race, forgetful even 
of their Creator, could only produce hordes of 
robbers and aiTaflins, and the weak, having no 
refource againft the powerful, became unavoidably 
their prey. 

However, as the property of guilt is only to 
increafe its own misfortunes, and to pollute what- 
ever it touches, experience, and the infupportabk 
weight of mifery, at laft reftored fome morality 
to the world. The necefiity of a protection fu- 
perior to that of man was perceived - 9 to heaven 
they directed their eyes in fearch of itj but the 
true God being no longer known, the elements, 
ftars, and whatever appeared fuperior to human 

u 2 force, 



292 ' DEMI-GODS AND HEROES. 

force, became the objects of adoration. Theie 
divinities were not fufficient by augmenting their 
number, they thought to increafe their power. 
Amid the wots with which he found himfelf fur- 
rounded, retaining all his pride, man carried his 
madnefs fo far as to adore even his fellow-crea- 
tures, who became formidable by their bravery, 
or aflifted him in his neceffities. The abufe of 
power foon compelled all to unite againft it ; the 
flames of war were kindled, and to the difeafes, 
wants, and calamities with which nature daily 
threatened his frail exiftence, man added this cruel 
fcourge. In the firft engagements, courage at- 
tracted every eye ; the timid and weak did 
not then pretend to diipute the firft rank or 
its dangers with him who alone was capable of de- 
fending it ; but when the victory was gained, cu- 
pidity, pride and ambition refumed their empire. 

The triumphant and courageous would no lon- 
ger be confounded with the vulgar; elevation 
gave offence 5 envy on one fide, and ingratitude on 
the other, excited fury. The earth again was 
wet with human gore ; and who can recount the 
blood it coft to convince mankind, that other laws 
were wanting than their outrageous paffions. It 
foon appeared that war would be eternal; and 
this moil terrible of arts became a ftudy. Every 
one perceived, that he muft facrifice fo me portion 
of his pride to the more preffing neceffity of 

obtaining 



DEMI-GODS AND HEROES. 293 

obtaining protection : rewards were affigned 
the conqueror, and the rank of each was deter- 
mined by his flrength and courage. This gave 
rife to emulation, which is infeparable from 
glory ; and Glory, who would always be juft in the 
diftribution of her favours, compelled Admiration 
and Gratitude to crown him who returned with 
the greateft number of trophies, and mowed him- 
felf moft capable of defending others. 

Such is the real origin of thofe kings and he- 
roes, whom the weaknefe and folly of man pretended 
afterwards to rank with the divinities : fuch like- 
wife is the origin of nobility, whofe rights and 
honours, obtained by virtue and courage, can 
be difputed only by the cowardly and the bafe. . 

It would need a pen more eloquent and expe- 
rienced than ours to mark out the exact time 
when men became civilized, and perceived the 
neceffity of obeying well-regulated laws, which 
were to combat their inclinations and paffions. 
Such an account would lead us too far from our 
fubject 3 we mail content ourfelves with obferv- 
ing, that in thofe dreadful times when the life of 
man was one thTue of crimes aad misfortunes, 
he who firft employed his ftrength and abilities in 
defence of the weak and innocent, muft necefTa- 
rily have obtained admiration and gratitude, whilft 
he who employed his victories only for the 

u 3 grati- 



2t£)4 HEROIC TIMES. 

gratification of his defires, muft have excited de-* 
teftation and horror. Real happinefs was the 
reward of the former, whilft the latter could ne- 
ver enjoy one moment's repofe. It was thus men 
learned by experience, that guilt brings its owrt 
punifhment, and that virtue is its own reward. 

This gre#t truth once admitted, fome happy 
families were to be found ; their example was fol- 
lowed by others, focieties were formed, and friend- 
Ihip came to increafe their number. Strength and 
happinefs, and the focial qualities, muft have in- 
creafed in proportion as they became extended. 



GENERAL REFLECTIONS upon the HISTORY 
Of GREECE and the TIMES called HEROIC, 

H eroism had firft its birth in Greece s 
it is in that country we muft feek its origin ; 
the Egyptians, it is generally acknowledged, had 
ho worfhip for demi-gods. 

This was a title they granted none among them ; 
great men were no otherwife known to pofterity 
than by being mentioned with admiration and 
praifeo Here then we are prefented with a new 
Fcerie, and that darknefs difappears in which the 
ries of the gods were involved. We fliall 
full meet with much fiction, but it will be lefs 
abfurd, and however fabulous at this time, it dis- 
covers 



KEROIC TIMES. 2gj 

covers a glimpfe of hiftorical light, which ferves 
to explain thofe inventions of the imagination. 
Tombs tranfmit by tradition, from generation to 
generation, the remembrance of the illuftrious 
men whofe afhes they contain. Monuments 
and annual ceremonies remind pofterity of the 
hiftories of thofe heroes whofe memories they 
were intended to perpetuate. We are parti- 
cularly convinced that thefe ornaments of the hu- 
man race have actually exifted, on feeing at 
particular times the games celebrated which they 
themfelves had inftituted. Before we proceed 
any further, we think it indifpenfably necefTary to 
call the attention of our readers to the origin of 
a. people, the mod celebrated in the annals of 
hiftory. 

If Greece at firft prefents the appearance of 
ignorance and barbarity, it is prefently feen to 
become civilized and populous, to form monar- 
chies, and particularly diftinguilh itfelf in the 
cultivation of the arts and fciences. It was by 
the Greeks, that poetry, eloquence, architecture, 
fculpture, and painting, were carried to the greateft 
pofiible perfection. It is to this people, in fhort, 
we are indebted for our moll perfect models of 
every kind. In taking a curfory view of the 
original condition of the Greeks, we fee them 
pafs from a ftate of favage barbarity to a civilized 
rational life 5 they quit caves, hollow trees, and 

u 4 forefts, 



♦ 



296 HEROIC TIMES. 

forefts, to inhabit cottages, towns, and cities. By 
fome chiefs of enlightened colonies were intro- 
duced among them arts., fciences, laws, and re- 
ligious ceremonies. Improving upon the inftruc- 
tion they had received, they furpaffed their m af- 
ters, and faw their own country produce heroes 
whofe names became immortal. It is then we 
come to the hiftories of Perfeus, Bellerophon, 
Hercules, Thefeus, Caftor, Pollux, and number- 
lefs others, whofe wonderful exploits have been 
the conftant theme of their poets, and are to this 
day reprefented on our ftages. 

We learn at the fame time the firft inftitution 
of thofe games and feafts which rendered Greece 
fo famous. 

The country, now known to us by the name of 
Greece, had not always the fame extent as when 
fubjecl: to the Romans. It has frequently even 
chang-ed its name. The Hebrew text of the facred 
fcriptures every where calls it Javan, and in the 
Septuagint verfion it is ftyled Hellas, or Hellene, 
from Hellenus fon of Deucalion, who reigned in 
Pthia, a country of ThefTaly, and gave his name 
to all Greece. It is remarkable that the Hebrew 
name Javan, having no determined pronunciation, 
refembles that of Ion; and the firft known Ionians 
were in Greece, probably even they were the 
firft inhabitants of it. The Phoenicians, the 
greateft navigators in the world, carried their 
1 commerce 



HEROIC TIMES* 297 

commerce into Greece, and particularly taught 
them the art of writing, which they firft difco- 
vered. The Egyptians like wife fent colonies 
there. This prudent people, who enjoyed all the 
ble flings of a good government, and all the ad- 
vantages which can be derived from the arts and 
fciences, taught them to feek peace and repofe un- 
der the protection of a monarch. They explained 
to them the neceflity of good laws, and of infpi- 
ring men with the fear of the divinity unhappily 
they were themfelves in error, and introduced 
only their own religion and fictitious deities. 

We have already mentioned in the firft part of 
this work, the profound ignorance of the Greeks 
concerning their origin. 

This, however, was equalled by their vanity ; 
they pretended to be the firft and moft ancient 
of people, and in confequence aflumed the tide 
of Autoclones, that is, born in the very country, 
regarding themfelves as the fathers and inftruclors 
of every other people. The refemblance which 
the names of their heroes bore to thofe of foreign 
nations, appeared to their felf-conceit proof fuffi- 
cient of this. What we know with certainty is, 
that Javan, fon of Japhet, known to the Greeks 
under the name of Japetus, had the weft for his 
portion. It is from him are defcended the Ionians 
and all the Grecian nations. After the difperfion 

which 



3 



298 HEROIC TIMES. 

which happened at the Tower of Babel, this an- 
cient patriarch led a colony into the weft, but the 
particular place where he fixed his refidence is 
unknown. It is thought to have been Alia Minor, 
from whence his defendants crofled the Bofphorus 
of Thrace, and pafled into Greece. 

Thefe were, without doubt, the firft inhabitants 
of that country \ and this is the Japetus fo much 
fpoken of by the ancient poets and hiftorians. 

According to Paufanias, Pelafgus was the firft 
extraordinary man who appeared in Greece; he 
furpaffed his contemporaries in ftature, ftrength, 
courage, comelinefs of perfon and beauty of mind. 
His refidence was in Arcadia, where he taught the 
people to build cottages as a defence againrt the 
inclemencies of heat and cold j to clothe themfelves 
with fkins, and to feed on the fruit of the beech 
tree. To recompence his fignal fervices, he was 
regarded as chief and king of the country. So 
much was his memory reflected, that the country 
he inhabited was from him called Pelafgia. His 
children, viitneffes of his glory, followed his exam- 
ple, and the grateful people intrufled the whole 
power of the ftate in their hands. 

Three generations after Pelafgus, Arcadia could 
boafc of an immenfe population, and a great num- 
ber of cities. This is the account Paufanias gives 
pf the firft inhabitants of Greece, Some time 

after, 



HEROIC TIMES. 299 

after, Egyptian and Phoenician colonies came to 
fettle in this country, and changed its manners, 
Vcuftoms and religion. 

The defendants of Javan and Pelafgus were 
not fufficient to people this vaft and fertile country. 
Phoenicia and Egypt lying near the places firfc 
taken poffefTion of by the children of Noah, fent 
colonies of their too numerous inhabitants in 
fearch of new abodes : thefe came into the weft, 
bringing with them their arts, cuftoms, laws and 
religion. 

The grofTeft idolatry at that time prevailed 
throughout Greece; their gods had not even 
names, fo that the people eafily accommodated 
themfelves to the divinities of thefe orientals, to 
whom they were indebted for their civilization 
and increafe of happinefs. i 

The mo ft diftinguimed leaders of thefe colonies 
were Inachus, Cecrops, Deucalion, Cadmus, 
Pelops, and fome others; the different colonies 
formed the kingdoms of Argos, Sicyon, Athens, 
Thebes and Lacedemon. An exact and general ac- 
count of the firft eftablifhments in Greece would 
exceed the limits we have prefcribed ourfelves in 
this work, and even divert us from our object. 
We mail confine ourfelves then to fuch remarks 
as prove that the mod celebrated heroes and demi- 
gods, mentioned in fabulous hiftory, have actually 
exifted. 

KINCJ- 



/ 



3oo 



KINGDOM OF ARGOS. 



KINGDOM OF ARGOS. 

The moft authentic hiftorical refearcheS 
prove that Inachus quitted Phoenicia and came 
into Greece, where he founded the kingdom of 
Argos, about one thoufand eight hundred and 
eighty years before the Chrifcian sera. He fettled 
in the country called Peloponnefus, he deepened 
the bed of the river Amphilochus, which ufed fre- 
quently to overflow, and bellowed on it his own 
name, which, according to the cuftom of thofe 
times, gave occafion to the report, that he was the 
tutelar deity of that river, The kingdom of Argos 
had a long fucceffion of monarchs : the nine firfl, 
called Inachides, were Inachus, Phoroneus, Apis, 
Argus, Chriofus, Phorbas, Triopas, Sthenelus and 
Gelanor. 

The fecond fon of Inachus and brother to Pho- 
roneus was called Egialus, and founded the king- 
dom of Sicyon. 

It is ufelefs to give a lift of the kings of thefe 
different countries ; their exigence and order of 
fucceffion may be proved from all the hiftories of 
Greece. We fnall notice, however, Danaus, con- 
temporary with Mofes he quitted Egypt with his 
family and came into the kingdom of Argos, under 
the reign of Gelanor, ninth king of that country, 
who was of the race of the Inachides. 

The 



KINGDOM Of ARGOS. ' goi 

The beginning of this fovereign's reign was full 
of trouble, which Danaus took advantage of to 
gain over a confiderable party, and dethrone his 
benefactor. 

The Inachides then gave place to the Bclides. 
Danaus had by different wives fifty daughters. 
The fons of his brother iEgyptus were the fame 
in number. Thefe latter having learned that their 
uncle was pofTefTor of a throne in Greece, embarked 
for the purpofe of demanding their relations in 
marriage. Danaus dared not refufe, but every- 
thing infpiring this ufurper with fufpicion, he gave 
orders to his daughters to arTaflinate their hufbands 
the firft night of their nuptials. We have already 
related that Hypermneftra alone fpared her huf- 
band, Lynceus. This prince made war upon 
Danaus, whom fear and remorfe for his crime 
determined at laft to yield him the crown. 

The fuccefTors of Lynceus were Abas, Prastus 
and Acrifius, whofe daughter, Danae, was the 
mother of Perfeus, fo famed in fable, of whom we 
mall fhortly fpeak. 

This fame Perfeus, having unintentionally flain 
his grandfather, Acrifius, quitted the kingdom of 
Argos and went to fettle in Mycenae. This ex- 
tract is fufficient to prove that by recurring to 
hiftory, we mall find the epochs when thefe per- 
fons lived, who were fo celebrated in the fictions 
of the poets. 

OF 



FABULOUS TIMES* 



1 



OF THE HEROIC, OR FABULOUS TIMES. 

Both ancients and moderns agree, that* 
the heroic, or fabulous times, extended from the 
time of Ogyges to the re-eftablifhment of the 
Olympiads, the period at which begin the hiftorical 
times. The duration of this fpace is not precifely 
determined ; the greater part of the learned fix it 
at one thoufand fix hundred years, but it is with 
equal confidence and refpecb we adopt the calcu- 
lation of the illuftrious Newton, who has brought 
it nearer the vulgar sera by about five hundred 
years, and computes its duration to have been 
twelve or thirteen centuries. The Parian marbles, 
the mofl authentic monument of ancient chro- 
nology, ferve as a guide from the time of Cecrops 
to the Olympiads, without exactly determining the 
length of the heroic times. 

To affift the memory we fhall again repeat the 
celebrated divifion of time according to Varro. 

He divided it into the unknown, the heroic 
or fabulous, and the hiftoricai. 

The firft comprehended all that paffed before 
the deluge of Ogyges: this period gave birth to 
the gods mentioned in the firft part of this work. 

The fecond extended from Ogyges to the 
eftablifhment of the Olympiads : it was then lived 

3 * he 



DELUGE OF OGYGES. 303 

the demi-gods and heroes: in this fecond fpace 
likewife we meet with the marbles of Paros, or 
Arundel. 

Laftly, the third divifion, called the hiftorical, 
commences at the eftabiiihment of the Olym- 
piads. 

The times called by Varro unknown, were 
actually fo by the Greeks, who were at firft a 
vagrant uncivilized people j but the eaftern nations, 
who enjoyed all the advantages of the arts and 
fciences, were much better acquainted with thefe 
remote periods. Inachus, by leading colonies into 
Greece, introduced his knowledge likewife among 
the barbarous people of that country. 

It will appear in the courfe of this work, how 
eafy it is to diftinguifh truth and hiftory from the 
marvellous, and the fictions of the poets. 



DELUGE OF OGYGES. 

This deluge is fo celebrated, that it is 
indifpenfably necefTary to give fome account of it. 

The Greek hiftorians fay, that Ogyges reigned 
over Attica and Bceotia, at the time Phoroneus 
was king of Argoiis ; and that this was the period 
of that deluge which was called by his name. 

St. Auguftine in his book fly led The City of 
God, has tranfmitted fome valuable remarks upon 

Grecian 



3®4 DELUGE OF OGYGES. 

Grecian antiquity. Thefe confirm the opinion, 
that the deluge happened under Ggyges, and add, 
that it was about one thoufand fix hundred and 
ninety-fix years before the Chriflian sera. This 
deluge muft not be confounded with that which 
was univerfal. We learn from the ancients that 
Bceotia was a country furrounded with mountains. 
The centre formed a valley, in the middle of which 
flood a lake which had no other means of difcharg- 
Ing itfelf but by fubterraneous channels, the waters 
running through mount Ptous. The great bodies 
of earth and mud carried along by the river Col- 
pias (which empties itfelf into the lake) probably 
choaked up thefe fubterraneous paffages, fo that 
the waters finding no ifTue, rofe to a height the 
more confiderable as their quantity was increafed 
by the fall of heavy rains. In confequence, Bceotia 
was foon entirely under water. 

Voefer, in his journey into Greece, after having 
attentively examined the country, afTures us, that 
no other caufe can be ailigned for this celebrated 
deluge. An event fo extraordinary was, by the 
poets, related with their ufual exaggerations. It 
gave rife like wife to numerous conjectures among 
the learned. Some fathers of the church, in their 
writings againft idolatry, appear to think that this 
deluge was nothing elfe but the pafTage of Mofes 
acrofs the Red Sea. But it appears certain that 
Ogyges lived before the Hebrew legiflator, and 

that 



MARBLES OF. PAROS; 305 

that this deluge mud be accounted for in the man- 
ner juft mentioned. 

MARBLES OF PAROS. 

The marbles of Paros being one of the 
rnoft valuable and authentic monuments recorded 
in hiftory, it would be unpardonable to pafs them 
over in filence. 

The firft epoch of this chronicle begins at the 
arrival of Cecrops in Greece, from which time 
the hiftory of that country is entitled to our con- 
fidence. 

This public monument, commonly called the 
Marbles of Paros, is a feries of pieces of mar- 
fcfle, containing a chrqnology of the principal events 
which happened in Greece. It begins at Cecrops* 
and ends at the period when Diognetes filled the 
office of Archon, including a period of one thou- 
fand three hundred and eighteen years. It was 
made by public authority for the ufe of the Athe- 
nians fixty years after the death of Alexander, 
and in the fourth year of the 128th Olympiad. " The 
dates which it fixes making no mention of the 
Olympiads, it appears certain that thefe latter were 
not ufed to determine chronology, and that the 
marbles of Paros were alone employed for that 
purpofe* 

X Timeus 



306 KINGDOM OF ATHENS. 

Timeus of Sicily*, in his hiftory, appears to be 
the firft writer who counted by olympiads; he 
did not write till 66 years after the death of Alex- 
ander. 

The marbles of Paros, we may conclude then, 
are the moft valuable and authentic monument of 
antiquity extant. They derived their name from 
the circumftance of their having been difcovered 
in the ifland of Paros. They were afterwards fold 
to lord Arundel, whofe name they now bear, 
and conftitute one of the finefl: ornaments of 
the public library at Oxford. Unhappily they are 
much injured in many parts, and frequently it 
requires great pains and attention to read even a 
few words in fome of the epochs they contain. 
Three learned men, Seldon, Lydiat and Prideaux, 
have laboured to elucidate and fupply, as far as 
pofiible, the obliterated text. 



KINGDOM OF ATHENS. 

The interpreter of the Arundelian mar- 
bles inform us, that it was in the reign of Tripas, 
feventh king of Argos, that Cecrops came from 
Egypt to eflablim himfelf in Attica. He efpoufed 
the daughter of A&eus, after whom the country 
was called; and built the twelve towns which 
comppfed the kingdom of Athens. Here he intro- 
duced 



KINGDOM OF ATHENS; 3©7 

cluced the laws and religious ceremonies of his 
country, particularly thofe of Minerva, fo honoured 
at Sais from whence he came. Thefe facts are 
attefted by all antiquity. 

It was he, fays Eufebius, who ftrft gave the 
name of God to Jupiter, and raifed him an altar. 

The great refemblance between the laws given 
by this prince to the Athenians, and thofe of the 
Hebrew people, incline us to believe, that he 
had learned them of the Ifraelites during their 
refidence in Egypt. 

The poets gave Cecrops the name of DiphyeSj 
that is, compofed of two natures. The fable like- 
wife reprefents him as half man and half ferpent. 
The origin of this name, and method of defcribing 
him, was fimply an allegory, to exprefs the Egyp^ 
tian and Grecian languages, both of which were 
ipoken by Cecrops 'with equal fluency. It was 
this prince who eftablifhed the marriage laws, and 
polifhed the manners of the Pelafgi, by inftruct> 
ing them in the Egyptian cuftoms. It has been 
clearly demonftrated, that Athens, the feat of arts, 
fciences and politenefs, firft received her knowledge 
from Egypt. Cecrops collected the inhabitants 
of the country, taught them to form a permanent 
eftablifhment, and built a forti efs, which from him 
was called Cecropia. The kingdom of Athens 
lafted more than four hundred years, and had 
feventeen kings j Cecrops, Cranaus, Amphidtyon, 
x 2 Eridlhonius, 



3<5§ KINGDOM OF ATHENS*-- 

Ericthonius, Pandion the firft, Ereftheus, Cecrops 
the fecond, Pandion the fecond, iEgeus, Thefeus, 
Mneftheus, Demophon, Qxyntes, Aphydas, Thy- 
mastes, Melanthus, and Codrus, who devoted him- 
felf for his country. 

Cranaus, a native of the country, fucceeded 
Cecrops, and reigned nine years. The Parian 
marbles inform us, that under his reign the Areo- 
pagus, eftablifhed by Cecrops, pronounced judg- 
ment between Neptune and Mars, of which we 
have given an account in a former part of this 
work. From the fame marbles we learn, that the 
deluge of Deucalion, which will prefently come 
under obfervation, happened in the fourth year of 
this prince's reign. After Codrus, the city was 
governed by perpetual magiftrates, called Ar.chon- 
tes. The hiftory of the firft kings of Athens, 
down to Demophon, abounds in fiction ; but the 
chronology of each of thefe reigns is certain, as 
the principal events which occurred during thefe 
periods are recorded by the marbles, and their 
epochs fixed. 

It was about one thoufand and ninety-five years 
before the Chriftian asra, fays Mr. de BofTuet, that 
Codrus, king of Athens, devoted himfelf for his 
country, and procured them victory by his own 
death. His children, Medon and Nileus, difputed 
the empire with each other, on which occafion the 
Athenians abolimed royalty, and declared Jupiter 

alone 



KINGDOM OF LACONIA. 309 

alone king of Athens. They created governors, 
or perpetual prefidents, called Archontes, who 
were obliged to render a ftricl: account of their 
adminiflration. Medon, fon of Codrus, was the 
firft who exercifed this office, which continued in 
his family a long time. 

The Athenians difperfed their colonies over that 
part of Ada Minor which was called Ionia; the 
iEolian colonies fettled about the fame time, and 
Grecian cities were foon founded throughout all 
Afia Minor. 



KINGDOM OF LACONIA, OR LACED.EMON. 

The kingdom of Laconia was founded 
during the reign of Cecrops, by Lelex, who gave 
it the name of Lelegia. 

- The firft dynafty of the monarchs of this 
country confifted of twelve. Eurotas, who gave 
his name to the principal river of that country, 
was the firft. Lacedasmon, his brother, fucceeded 
him, and gave his name to the capital, and to the 
whole kingdom. 

The third was Amyclas, who built a new city 
called after his own name. It will be fufficient to 
name the remainder, who were Argalus, Cynortas, 
CEbalus, Hippocoon, Tyndarus, Caftor and Pol- 
lux, fons of Tyndarus, and brothers of Helen $ 
x 3 Menelaus, 



DELUGE OF DEUCALION, 



Menelaus, fon of Atreus, who obtained the 
Crown in right of Helen Oreftes and Her- 
mione, the former fon to Agamemnon, the latter 
daughter to Menelaus and Helen y and laftly, 
Tifamenes, fon of Oreftes. 

It was during the reign of this prince, that the 
Heraclides, defendants of Hercules, entered 
Peloporinefus and pofTefTed themfelves of Argos, 
Mycsense, and Lacedsemon. Euryfthenes, fon of 
Ariftodemus, afterwards mounted the throne, and 
began the fecond dynafty of Spartan kings, who 
were called Agides, from Agis his fon. 



cording to the Arundel marbles, it was under 
the reign of Cranaus that the deluge of Deu- 



Thefe fame marbles prove, that when the 
waters fubfided, Deucalion went to Athens to re-* 
turn thanks to the gods for his prefervation. He 
offered facrifice to Jupiter in a temple which 
he railed to his honour. This temple ftill exifted 
in the time of Pififtrat-us, who rebuilt it at a vaft 
cxpence, and it afterwards became one of the 
feven wonders of the world, under the name of 
the temple of Jupi,ter Olympus. 



DELUGE OF DEUCALION. 




mentioned, that ac~ 




The 



ARRIVAL OF CADMUS IN GREECE. 311 

The deluge of Deucalion appears to have pro- 
ceeded from the fame caufes, as the deluge of 
Ogyges. The poets however rendered it much 
more famous but we muft remark, that the 
tradition of the univerfal deluge having' been 
preferved by every people, though in a confufed 
manner ; the remembrance of this terrible event 
was renewed in their minds, wherever they were 
witnefs to any remarkable inundation. It was in 
imitation of this tradition, that they have exagge- 
rated the defcription of every, particular deluge. 
The imagination of the poets could never exceed 
an event, the remembrance of which ftill excited 
terror j but as they loved to appropriate all to their 
own purpofes, without troubling themfelves with 
epochs, or paying any attention to the truth, they 
united in their defcriptions whatever had been 
tranfmitted to them by tradition. 



ARRIVAL OF CADMUS IN GREECE. 

A bout one thoufand three hundred and 
fifty years before the Chriftian sera, Cadmus de- 
parted from the coaft of Phoenicia, and the environs 
of Tyre and Sidon, with a colony to form a new 
eftablifhment in Greece. He firft took poffefiion 
of part of Bceotia, built a fortrefs, which from 
him was called Cadmeum, and made this the feat 
■~ of 



312 ARRIVAL OF CADMUS IN GREECE. 

of his new empire. He experienced, however, 
great refiftance from the inhabitants of the country ; 
the Hyantes in particular oppofed him with the 
greater!: courage j but being completely defeated 
in a pitched battle by Cadmus, they were obliged 
to abandon their country. This example, ftriking 
terror into the JEolians their neighbours, they fub- 
mitted to the conqueror, and received his laws, 
euftoms and religion, which they loon found pre- 
ferable to the barbarous practices of Greece. 
From that time the JEolians and Phoenicians 
uniting, became one people. 

Such is the abridged hiftory of this colony - 3 but 
we find it lb intermixed with fiction, that it is 
almofl impofTible to difcover the real truth. Every 
hiftorical refearch into antiquity proves, that 
Europa, filter of Cadmus, panedfrom Phoenicia into 
the Ifle of Crete, in a veffel carrying the figure of 
a bull on the prow. It is from this the Greeks 
have invented the ftory of Jupiter having tranf- 
formed himfelf into that animal to carry ofT Europa. 
Some of the ancients fay, that this princefs was 
carried off by pirates 5 that Agenor, her father, 
king of Phoenicia, fent in fearch of her Cadmus 
and two other princes, named Cilix, and Phoenix ; 
that Cadmus flopped in Bceotia as we have already 
faid ; Cilix fettled in that part of Afia Minor, after- 
wards called Cilicia ; and Phoenix paffed into Africa. 
According to ancient writers^ Cadmus firft intro- 
duced 



ARRIVAL OF PELOPS IN GREECE. gi$ 

duced the ufe of letters into Greece this appears 
certain, that the ancient Greek characters perfectly 
refembled thofe of the Phoenicians. Befides the 
alphabet, till then unknown in Greece, Cadmus 
brought the religious ceremonies of the Egyp- 
tian divinities, particularly thofe of Ofiris and 
Bacchus, which were confounded together. We 
again repeat it, that the more attentively we 
examine hiftory and ancient monuments, the more 
evident it appears that it is to Phoenicia and Egypt 
the Greeks are indebted for their laws, cuftoms, 
religion, arts and fciences, 

ARRIVAL OF PELOPS IN GREECE. 

The laft renowned flranger who arrived 
in Greece before the taking of Troy, was Pelops, 
fon of Tantalus, king of Lydia. This prince, 
compelled to fly his country on account of the war 
declared againft him by Tros, in revenge for the 
violence offered to Ganymede, took refuge in 
Greece, where he efpoufed Hippodamia, daughter 
of CEnomaus, king of Pifa. On the death of his 
father in law 3 he afcended the throne, and gave name 
to the peninfula fince that time called Peloponne- 
fus, but his dominions extended much farther; 
he was one of the moft powerful princes of 
Greece. He had two fons, Atreus and Thyeftes, 
remarkable for their mutual hatred. Atreus 

was 



3*4 



CAPTURE OF TROY. 



was father of Agamemnon and Menelaus, who af- 
filed in the taking of Troy. 

The defcendants of Pelops reigned at Mycasn^ 
till the return of the Heraclides. 



in hiflory. It was at the time of this famous fiege 
that Greece produced the major part of thofe 
heroes, who will occupy a diftinguifhed place ir> 
the remainder of this work. We think it furBcient 
to mention this remarkable event, and fhall con- 
fine ourfelves to the account which the illuftrious 
Mr. de BorTuet gives in his difcourfe on univerfal 
hiftory. 

<f The city of Troy was twice taken, firft under 
Laomedon, its third monarch ; and afterwards under 
his fon Priam — having fuflained a fiege of ten years. 
This epoch of the capture of Troy, which happened 
about three hundred and eight years after the de- 
parture of the Ifraelites out of Egypt, and one 
thoufand one hundred and eighty-four before the 
Chriftian aera, is worthy obfervation, as well from 
the importance of fo great an event, celebrated by 
the two greatefl poets of Greece and Italy, as from 
its being the period which produced whatever is 
remarkable in the times called Fabulous or Heroic > 
i Fabulous, 



CAPTURE OF TROY f 




celebrated 



OE HEROES. 315 

Fabulous, from the fictions in which the hiftory of 
thole times is involved ; and Heroic, from thoic 
called by the poets the offspring of gods and 
heroes. The epoch of their lives cannot be 
remote from this capture, for in the time of 
Laomedon appeared all the heroes of the golden 
fleece, Jafoii, Hercules, Orpheus, Caftor and 
Pollux. 

" In the time of Priam, we meet with Achilles, 
Agamemnon, Menelaus, UlyfTes, Hector, Sarpe- 
don fon of Jupiter, JEneas fon of Venus, (ac- 
knowledged by the Romans as their founder), and 
many others, from whom the mofb iilullrious fami- 
lies, and even whole nations, made it their ^lory 
to be defcended. This then is the, period which 
produced whatever is moft beautiful and authentic 
in the times called Fabulous/' Thefe are the 
principal epochs when the heroes flourifhed who 
will now engage our attention. 



OF HEROES. 

Illustrious men were frequently de- 
fcribed by the ancients as giants, or at leaft as 
men of an extraordinary ftature. Homer and the 
other poets make them ufe javelins which would 
have required the ftrength of four ordinary men to 
brandifh. 

It 



316 ( OF HEROES. 

It has been already obferved, that the Egyptians 
had a cuftom of judging kings, generals and every 
perfon of diftin&ion after death. If virtuous, their 
memory was preferved, and reverenced $ but 
the Greeks firft rendered them divine honours: 
It is likewife from their language that the word 
hero is derived ; a word whofe origin is differently 
explained. Some of the ancients fuppofed it to 
come from eros, love, to fignify that heroes were 
the fons of a mortal and an immortal; but St. 
Auguftine in his refearches into idolatry, proves, 
that the word hero comes from the Greek word 
Hera, a name given to Juno. One of the fons 
of this goddefs was called Hero, and this ap- 
pellation was afterwards ufed to exprefs men 
illuftrious for their courage and exploits. This 
is the etymology molt generally adopted. The 
name of Hero was at firft only given to fuch 
as were defcended from a divinity and a mortal, 
but it was afterwards conferred upon all who ac- 
quired any celebrity. Ancient philofophy taught, 
that after death the fouls of great men were re- 
ceived into the abode of the gods, and this opinion 
gave rife to the practice of adoring them. 

The worfhip of the gods and that of Heroes 
was by no means the fame -> to the divinities they 
offered facrifices and poured out libations, but 
they contented themfelves with celebrating funeral . 

games 



OF HEROES. 317, 

games to the honour of Heroes, during which 
they fung their mofl illuftrious atchievements. 

In feveral temples dedicated to Hercules, facri- 
fices were offered to him under the name of Olym- 
pian Hercules, and in the fame temples they 
celebrated his funeral ceremonies in quality of 
Hero. 

The Arcadians, MefTenians and Thebans, at firft 
facrifked only to the gods ; but afterwards they 
invoked the Heroes of their country. It was 
generally believed that the latter concurred with 
the gods in punilhing impiety. Heroines enjoyed 
the fame honours as heroes - 3 their tombs were in 
no refpect different , both were erected in the 
middle of fome wood, which from that time became 
facred, and was called Lucus. There were certain 
periods when they reforted hither to make their 
offerings, and perform libations. 

It is extremely difficult to fix the precife period 
at which Heroes began to receive divine honours. 
The ancients fay nothing pofitive upon this point. 
Some learned moderns agree in believing that it 
may be traced up to Cadmus. They remark, that 
this prince having brought into Greece the laws, 
cuftoms and manners of the Egyptians and Phoeni- 
cians, introduced at the fame time the practice of 
honouring or branding the memory of diftinguifhed 
characters. The Greeks, naturally fond of imitating 
others, wifhed in the fame manner to honour the 

funerals 



31S OF HERGES. 

funerals of their relations by feafts, invocations and 
offerings; they firft erecled to them magnificent 
tombs, which they vifited annually to pour out 
libations ; to thefe they afterwards added (tatues 
and altars; and tombs were at laft feen transformed 
into temples. Every individual had the right of 
paying thefe duties to his anceftors, and even of 
rendering them honours ; but frequently their fame 
extended not beyond the family ; they were their 
Penates or houfehold gods, and from their obfcurity 
unknown to the reft of the world ; but it was not 
the fame with great men ; they were honoured by 
cities, kingdoms and mighty nations, who thought 
they owed this tribute to their fervices and illuf- 
trious actions. They were by public afrs declared 
protectors of the people among whom they had 
lived; frequently they were adopted by other 
countries, and their worfhip became as famous- 
and extenfive as their reputation. Individuals 
could only raife to their relations fimple tombs, in 
form of altars, which were never public. Monu- 
ments railed to Heroes of countries, refembled the 
temples of the gods ; and to add folemnity to the 
refpect they paid them, they eftablifhed to their 
honour myfteries, ceremonies, and colleges of 
priefts appropriated to their fervice. The num- 
ber of Heroes and Heroines being almoft beyond 
calculation, it would be impoffible to give the 
hiftories, and hardly even the names of all thofe 

whom 



HISTORY OF PERSEUS. gig 

whom Greece and Italy either regarded as divini- 
ties, or dignified with diftinguifhed honours; but 
we {hall be careful to give an account of the moil 
celebrated, and clafs them as far as poflible accord- 
ing to the order in which they lived j for which 
purpofe, we mall begin with the hiftory of Perfeus* 
that appearing to us to be the mod ancient, 

HISTORY OF PERSEUS. 

Perseus was of the blood of Danaus, the 
ufurper or conqueror of the throne of Gelanor, 
king of Argos. 

Acrifius, grandfather of Perfeus, had an only 
daughter, named Danae. Having learned from the 
oracle, that he mould have a grandfon who would 
deprive him of his life and crown, he confined his 
daughter in a brazen tower, rejecting the offers of 
all who fought her in marriage. Prastus, brother 
of Acrifius, who took upon him the furname of 
Jupiter, (according to a practice which we men- 
tioned in the hiftory of that god,) found means to 
corrupt the fidelity of his niece's guards, gained 
admittance into the tower, and married her. The 
birth of Perfeus difcovered the myftery. 

Acrifius, more terrified at the prediction of the 
oracle than fenfible to paternal tendernefs, ex- 
pofed Danae and her infant in a crazy boat upon 

the 



gSO HISTORY OF PERSEUS. 

the wide ocean ; this being long driven at the 
mercy of the winds, flopped near the ifland o-f 
Seriphus, one of the Cyclades, in the iEgean fea> 
Here the mother and child were favourably re- 
ceived by Polydectes, king of that country, who 
even bellowed great pains on the education of the 
young prince; but afterwards, conceiving an afFec* 
tion for Danae, and fearing the prefence of the 
young Perfeus (whofe every action announced that 
he would one day become a hero,) he fought fome 
pretext for fending him away. The one which 
lie adopted, was to give it out that he propofed 
marrying a Grecian princefs; and to celebrate his 
nuptials with the greater fplendor, he invited all 
the neighbouring princes, defiring them at the 
fame time to bring the mod rare productions of 
their country. It was then that to procure the ab- 
fence of the young Perfeus, he ordered him to go 
and fetch the head of Medufa, one of the Gorgons. 
Such is the beginning of the hiflory of Perfeus. 
We fhall give the fabulous account of him, and it 
{hall be feen how nearly they referable each other. 

Perfeus, fon of Jupiter and Danae, was born 
in a brazen tower, which had been built by Acri- 
fius, king of Argos, to confine his daughter Danae, 
hoping by this means to prevent the accompliih- 
ment of an oracle which had predicted that he 
fhould be deprived of his life and crown by his 
own grandfbn. Jupiter, metamorphofed into a 

, fhower 



HISTORY OF FERSEUSi 32 Jt 

(hotter of gold, penetrated into the tower; and 
hot long after, Perfeus was born. The guards re- 
ported that Jupiter had eluded their vigilance but 
Acriflus refufing to Men to their ftory 3 put to 
death the nurfe of Danae, and ehclofed his daughter 
and her child in a cheft, which was thrown into the 
fea. Driven by the waves towards one of the 
Cyclades-, this cheft was picked up by Dictys, 
brother of Polydecles. By the king of the country 
Danae and her fon were moft hofpitably received, 
and Perfeus was brought up in his court but as 
this hero grew up : , he gave Umbrage to Poly- 
dectes, who difmifTed him his courts and expofed 
him to the moft imminent danger, by fending him 
to kill Medufa and bring him her head. On this 
occafion the gods themfelves came to his aflift- 
ance; Minerva lent him her mirror, or rather 
asgis, which ferved as his fhield ; Mercury lent him 
his wings> and his fcymeter, forged by Vulcan $ 
and Pluto accommodated him with his helmet* 
By the help of the wings he could tranfport him- 
felf wherever he pleafed, and the helmet and mir- 
ror enabled whoever poflefTed them to fee all, but 
remained himfelf invifible. 

Thus powerfully fuccoured, Perfeus furprifed 
Medufa, and fevered her head from her body. 

The cruelty of Acrifius, however, could not 
prevent the accomplishment of the oracle, He 
Y fell 



^22 MEDUSA AND THE GORGONS* 

fell by the hands of Perfeus, in the manner which 
we fhall hereafter mention. 

This part of the fable of Perfeus too nearly 
refembles his hiftory to need any explanation. 
We fhall only obferve that his armour, fo cele- 
brated by the poets, was nothing but an allegory. 

By the wings of Mercury, we are to underftand 
the veffel which carried Perfeus to the coaft of 
Africa. The helmet of Pluto, which he wore upon 
his head, exprefTed the fecrecy neceftary to fecure 
fuccefs to his enterprife ; and the fhield of Minerva 
was the fymbol of prudence, a quality he fo much 
ftood in need of. We fhall continue the hiftory 
and fable of Perfeus in relating what we meet with 
in mythology concerning Medufa, the Gorgons 
and Andromeda. 



TABLE OF MEDUSA AND THE GORGONS. 

Phorcus, fays Hefiod, had by Ceto two 
daughters, Pephredo and Enyio, born with white 
hair. 

He was likewife father of the Gorgons, who 
fefide at the extremity of the world, beyond the 
ocean, near the abode cf night. Their names 
were Stheno, Euryale and Medufa $ this laft was 
mortal^ but Euryale and Stheno were immortal, and 
enjoyed perpetual youth. The god of the ocean 
j was 



MEDUSA AND THE GORGONS. 323 

was ftruck with the charms of Medufa, but this 
did not prevent her tragic end; while fleeping me 
Was furprifed by Perfeus, who cut off her head* 
from the blood of which proceeded the hero 
Chrifaor, and the horfe Pegafus — Ghrifaor derived 
his name from a golden fword which he held in his 
hand when born— He married Callirhoe, daughter 
of OceanuSj and was father of Geryon, a famous 
-giant, having three heads.— Pegafus was fo called 
from being born near the ocean. At the very in- 
ftaht of his birth, he ftruck the earth with his 
foot, and immediately produced the fountain 
Hippocrene^ fo celebrated by the poets $ then 
quitting the earth, he afcended to the residence of 
the gods, where he inhabits the palace of Jupi- 
ter, and is employed in transporting thunder and 
lightning. 

iEfchylus, in defcribirig the daughters of Phof- 
ciis, fays, they had but one eye and one tooth* 
which they made ufe of alternately. This tooth 
for ftrength furpaffed the tufks of a boar ; their 
hands were brafs ; their hair was formed of fnakes, 
and their look was inftant death. Pindar fays, 
that the (jorgons transformed into flones thofe 
who looked on them, and Perfeus, to revenge 
himfelf on Polydedles, and the inhabitants of the 
ifle of Seriphus, changed them into ftones, by 
prefe-nting to them the head of Medufa. 

He reprefents Minerva affifting Perfeus whilft 
y 2 he 



MEDUSA AND THE GORGOMS. 

he approached Medufa, and relates, that the goct< 
defs furprifed at the melody which proceeded 
from the groans of the Gorgons and the hiding of 
the ferpents, invented a flute in imitation of them* 
and beftowed it on mankind. He adds, that 
Minerva having broken the horfe Pegafus to the 
bridle, gave it Bellerophon when going to com- 
bat the Chimasra. This hero wifhing to afcend 
even to the fkies, was thrown headlong to the 
earth, and his courfer placed among the ftars. 

Ovid in his Metamorphofes fpeaks of the 
extreme beauty of Medufa ; he fays me was 
famous for her fine hair. Neptune, fmitten 
with her charms, declared his paffion to her in 
the temple of Minerva. The goddefs, irritated 
at this - profanation, changed her locks into 
fnakes, and afiifted Perfeus to furprife and con- 
quer her. Pegafus being produced in the man- 
ner we have already related, was mounted by 
Perfeus, who flew towards Mauritania, where he 
revenged himfelf on Atlas, who had refufed him 
the rights of hofpitality, by changing him into 
a mountain of the fame name. From thence he 
directed his courfe into Ethiopia, where he deli- 
vered Andromeda from a fea monfter, which was 
on the point of devouring her. He likewife 
transformed into ftones Phineus his rival, and the 
foldiers that accompanied him, by fhewing them 
the head of Medufa « in all his expeditions it was 

of 



STORY OF ANDROMEDA. 323 

of ferviee to him, and he at laft gave it to Mi- 
nerva, who placed it in the middle of her cegis. 

To thefe ftories Ovid adds, that Perfeus hav- 
ing killed Medufa, took flight over the plains of 
Lybia, and that the drops of blood which fell 
from the Gorgon^s head were changed into fer- 
pents. Such is the origin he gives to the vene- 
mous reptiles which are met with at every ftep in 
that country. 

STORY OF ANDROMEDA. 

Ovid in his Metamorphofes fays, that 
Calliope, mother of Andromeda, having irritated 
the Nereids by prefuming to compare herfelf 
with them in beauty, drew down their vengeance 
upon the whole country. The oracle of Amnion 
being confulted, returned for anfwer, that to ap- 
peafe their anger Andromeda muft be expofed to 
a fea monfter. The unhappy princefs was bound 
fail to a rock, and now almcft within the jaws of 
the devourer, when Perfeus mounted on Pegafus 
perceived her from aloft in the air, flew to her 
relief, flew the monfter, broke afunder her chains, 
and reftored her to her parents. Andromeda had 
been promifed in marriage to him who fhould 
deliver her 5 Perfeus efpoufed her, but during the 
nuptials, Phineus, nephew of Calliope, to whom 

y 3 before 



£26 STORY OF ANDROMEDA. 

before her delivery me had been betrothed, pre- 
fented himfeif with a troop of armed followers m 
the banqueting hall, and began a moft bloody 
combat. 

Perfeus feeing himfeif in danger of being over- 
powered by numbers, and willing to punifh more 
effectually this cowardly attack, metamorphofed 
them into ftones by preferring to them the head 
of Medufa. 

After this engagement, he conducted his wife to 
the ifle of Seriphus, where he delivered his mo- 
ther from the addrefles of Polydecles, whom he 
fought and flew. He afterwards vanquLQied Prse- 
tus, who had dethroned Acrifius, father of Danae. 

It was then the Oracle was fulfilled. Acrifius, 
faeing informed that his grandfon Perfeus was re- 
turning triumphantly to Argos, went as far as 
LarirTus, on the river Peneus, to meet him. 

He arrived while they were engaged in the 
game at quoits, at that time much in ufe ; Perfeus 
wifhing to difplay his ftrength, difcharged his 
quoit, but fo unfortunately, that he ftruck his 
grandfather, Acrifius, dead on the fpot. Per- 
feus, unable to forgive himfeif for this involuntary 
action, flayed a very fhort time at Argos. He 
engaged Megapenthus, fon of Pr^tus, to exchange 
kingdoms with him, and went to found Mycenae 
which became the capital of his new dominions. 

Such 



STORY OF ANDROMEDA. 327 

Such is the fabulous account of Perfeus, which 
we find continually intermixed with his hiftory. 

This hero, during his life, was a great patron 
of letters, and built an academy upon Mount 
Helicon. From thefe two motives, joined to the 
luftre of his actions, he was by the poets exalted 
to the heavens they honoured him as a demi-god, 
and afligned him, and the family of his wife, places 
among the conftellations, under the names of 
Perfeus, Calliope, and Andromeda. 

The monfter which was to have devoured An- 
dromeda was reprefented by the fign called the 
whale. The recital of the actions of this prince 
abounds in the fupernatural, and as his conquefts 
and expeditions had been executed with equal 
wifdom, rapidity and fuccefs, it was pretended 
that the gods had lent him their arms; Mer- 
cury his wings, to exprefs the velocity of his 
progrefs - y Pluto his helmet, the fymbol of that 
prudence and difcretion, which taught him to ob- 
ferve the mod: profound fecrecy and Pallas her 
buckler, to mark the good fortune which pro- 
tected him from every danger. 

This prince had a temple at Athens. Argos 
and the I fie of Seriphus only honoured him as a 
hero. 



EXPLA- 



HISTORY OF PERSEUS. 



EXPLANATION of the FABLES which are cpn- 
with the HISTORY of PERSEUS 

Perseus on his return to Greece, rendered 
thanks to the gods for the fuccefs of his expe- 
dition, tie confecrated the prow of his fhip, an4 
placed it in the tempje of Jupiter on Mount 
Olympus. 

This prow reprefented a horfe, and the yerTel 
was called Pegafus. Olympus was fuppofed to be 
the reiidence of the gods. Thefe two circum- 
Ranees the poets embellifhed by faying, that Pe- 
gafus remained only a moment upon earth, and 
then directed bis flight towards the reftdence of 
the gods. Perfeus confecrated feme other parts of 
}iis vefTel in the temple of Apollo, upon Mount 
ParnaiTus, 

This temple the poets defcribed as the common 
habitation of Apollo and the Mufes. They re- 
prefented the genius of poetry under the form of 
a flying horfe, which furmounts all obftacles and 
%hc fountain Hippocrene, w}iich Pegafus caufed 
to fpring from the Earth by a blow with his foot 4 
is intended to exprefs, that the productions of 
genius are never marked with the fervile ftamp 
of labour, but refemble pure and cryftal ftreams 
fqpplied from an abundant fountain. 

The 



HISTORY OF PERSEUS. 329 

The learned were much divided in their opinions 
concerning the Gorgons. Diodorus pretends 
that they were warlike women who inhabited 
Lybia, near the lake Tritonide. They were 
frequently at war with the Amazons their neigh- 
bours. In the times of Perfeus they were go- 
verned by a queen named Medufa. This hero 
defeated them, and flew their queen ; but Her- 
cules alone was able entirely to exterminate 
them. By fome ancient authors, the Gorgons 
are reprefented as warlike women of great beauty. 
Admiration at the fight of them banifhed all 
idea of defence, and they availed themfelves of 
this advantage to attack and defeat their enemy. 
This fatal effect of their beauty, the poets de- 
fcribed by faying, that their looks converted into 
ftone, and deprived of motion. 

Pliny, the naturalift, paints them as uncivilized 
females, extremely formidable. Near the Weftern 
Cape he fays are the Gorgates, formerly inhabited 
by the Gorgons. Hanno, general of the Carthagi- 
nians, haying penetrated into their country, met 
with women who in fpeed equalled the rapidity of 
a horfe, or even a bird. He took two of them 
who were covered with hair. Their fldns were 
hung up in the temple of Jupiter at Carthage, 

where thev remained till the deftruction of that 

c -*- -../.-..•--•- •- - - - ^, ■ y 

Paufanias 



$3® HISTORY OF PERSEUS. 

Paufanias mentions an hiftorian, who gives 1 
fimilar account. He imagines Medufa to have 
been a barbarous woman of furprifing ilrength, 
who was conquered by Perfeus. 

Mr. Fourmont, by confulting the eaflern lan- 
guages, finds in the names of the Gorgons, thofe 
of three veiTels which carried on a trade along the 
co ail of Africa, where they met with gold, ele- 
phants' teeth, horns of different animals and pre- 
cious ftones. Thefe commodities were afterwards 
brought into the ports of Phoenicia \ this, fays he^ 
is the explanation of the tooth, horns and eye 
which were common to the three Gorgons. Thefe 
yefifels had prows which reprefented monfters ; 
Perfeus met, engaged and captured them ; his 
vefTel was called Pegafus, and carried a flying 
horfe at her head. When this prince arrived in 
Greece with immenfe riches, there were great re- 
joicings for his return, and the poets invented the 
fable of Medufa and the Gorgons. Thefe expla- 
nations are fufficient to fhow the lengths to which 
their imaginations led them, when the poets wifhed 
to defcribe the illuflrious actions of thofe heroes 
whom they confidered as their friends and pre 
tectQrs, 



BELLE- 



BELLEROPKQN AND THE CHIMERA. 



BELLEROPHON AND THE CHIMERA. 

Bellerophon, according to Homer, was 
ion of Glaucus, king of Corinth, and grandfon to 
Sifyphus. He was firft called Hipponous, bug 
having killed his brother, or fome other Corin- 
thian of diftinction, named Beller, they gave 
him the appellation of Bellerophon, murderer of 
Beller. 

Compelled to fly to Argos, he was there favour- 
ably received by Prastus - s but Antcea or Sthoenobea 
Jiis wife, unable to procure a return of the tender 
fentiments fhe entertained for Bellerophon, accufed 
him to her hufband of an attempt to feduce her. 
Enraged at fuch an infult, he firft propofed to put 
him to death.3 but out of refpect to the rights of 
hofpitaiity he fent him to lobates, king of Lycia 
and father of Sthcenobea, with a letter, importing a 
defire that he mould find means to make away 
with the bearer. The hero fet out under the pro- 
tection of the deities, guardians of innocence, and 
arrived fafely in Lycia, on the banks of the river 
Xanthus. Iobates received him with joy, and 
according to the cuftom of thofe times, celebrated 
feafts during nine days, in gratitude to the gods for 
the arrival of the young prince. 

The tenth day he read the letter of Prastus, and 

unwilling 



3'|2 BELLEROPHON AND THE CHIMERA. 

unwilling himfelf to fned the blood of Bellerophon, 
he fent him to combat a frightful monfter called 
Chimaera, which laid wade the country. 

This monfter was of immortal defcent; it had 
the head of a lion, the body of a goat, and the tail 
of a dragon s it vomited from its mouth volumes 
of fire and fmoke. The young hero however, 
affiled by Minerva, who brought him the horfe 
Pegafus, flew it with his arrows. After this de- 
feat of the Chimaera, and feveral other expeditions 
from which he always returned victorious, Iobates, 
convinced of his innocence, gave him in marriage 
lis daughter, Philonoe, and declared him fucceffor 
to his throne. Sthcenobea feeing all the crimes me 
lad engaged in ineffectual, ftung with lhame and 
remorfe, terminated her exiftence by poifon. 
After the death of Bellerophon, the poets placed 
him among the ftars, and willing to preferve the 
remembrance of the Chimaera, they afcribed to it 
a genealogy - x they faid it was daughter of Typhon 
and Echidna. The defcription which they give of 
k is entirely allegorical. In Lycia there were feve- 
ral mountains covered with extenfive forefts, which 
were inhabited by lions and other beafts of prey, 
Bellerophon was charged by Iobates to render 
thefe forefts lefs dangerous, by hunting and de- 
ftroying the wild beafts, which having accom- 
pliihed, it was pretended that he had vancjuimed 
the Chimaera, 

The 



HISTORY OF THE FIRST MINOS, &C. 333 

The name of this pretended animal is now ap- 
plied to all imaginary monfters. 

The poets added that it vomited forth dairies 5 
this was to exprefs a volcano, placed on the fum- 
mit of one of thefe mountains. 

By a proverb, letters, which contained any thing 
to the difadvantage of the perfons who carried 
them, were called letters of Bellerophon. 

In the fecond volume of the Thefauro Britan- 
nico is to be feen a medal which rep re fen rs Belle- 
rophon in the air mounted upon Pegafus, giving 
the finifhino; blow to the Chimasra. This medal 
was undoubtedly engraved from the fable of this 
hero, and not his hiftory; for every thing con- 
curs to prove that Pegafus was a velTel, and not 
a horfe. 



HISTORY OF THE FIRST MINOS, RHADAMAN- 
THUS, AND SARPEDON. 

Some of the ancients, and in imitation 
of them, feveral moderns, have defcribed Minos 
fometimes as a leglfiator of confummate wifdom 
and juftice, and fometimes as a fanguinary cruel 
tyrant. The chronicle of Paros explains this 
contradiction in a very fatisfactory manner, by 
fhowing that there were two of this name. 

The flrrt, fon of Jupiter Arteritis and Europa, was 

brother 



534 HISTORY OF THE FIRST MINOS; 

brother to Rhadamanthus and Sarpedon, and fuc- 
ceeded to the throne of Crete after the death of his 
father. 

This prince efpoufed Ithone, by whom he nacl 
Lycafte, who fucceeded him, and a daughter 
named Acacallida; This Minos governed his 
people with great mildnefs, and the ifle of Crete^ 
tili that time little known, became under his p-o- 
vernment much celebrated. In the eleventh 
epoch, the marbles of Paros mention two cities 
which he built* Apollonia, and Minoia Lyctia. 

The laws of this prince have- procurred him the 
reputation of one of the greater! legiflators of an- 
tiquity: to flrengthen their influence and render 
them more facred, he feigned that they were dic- 
tated to him by his father Jupiter in a retired 
cavern in the ifle of Crete, where he ufed to re fort. 
It is remarkable that almoft all the ancient legifla- 
tors have thought it neceflary to give a divine 
origin to their laws. Zoroailer had his genius* 
Numa Pompilius his nymph Egeria. Pythagoras 
gave it out that he had defcended into the dotni- 
nions of Pluto. Epimenides faid that he had flept 
fifty years, and that during this fleep he had re- 
ceived the code of laws which he propofed, front 
the mouth of Jupiter himfelf. Thefe great men 
perceived, that the authority of an individual,- even 
though pofferTed of kingly power, was not fu/H- 
cjent when it was neceffary to reprefs the paffions 

and 



R.H AD AM AN TH U S AND SARPEDOlT. 335 

and infpire religious veneration for the laws.- This 
perfuafion undoubtedly led them to feek the aid 
of divine Support; though it is not improbable 
that they had fome knowledge of the glorious 
manner in which the true God had delivered to 
Mofes the two tables of the law on mount Sinai ; 
the tradition of this event was universally, diffufed, 
and there is every reafon to believe that each of 
thefe legiflators adopted Mofes for their model. 
Every ninth year Minos went and enclofed himfelf 
in the cavern of Jupiter, to acquire frefh know- 
ledge, and to reform or make additions to his laws 
as circumftances required, and experience dictated. 
In procefs of time, this fpecies of Sanctuary was \ 
called Jupiter's cavern. 

So much were the laws of Minos refpecled by 
antiquity, that Lycurgus went into Crete to acquire 
a knowledge of them, and the major part of thofe 
which he inftituted for the Lacedemonians, were 
copied from the Cretan lawgiver. 

Jofephus thought Minos alone could be 
compared to Mofes, and certainly this eulogium 
cannot be fufpected when it is given by a Jewifh 
hiftorian. 

Minos was fon of a Phoenician princefs, and 
always maintained a correlpondence with that 
country. It w 7 as by this means, probably, he be- 
came acquainted with the laws of Mofes, which 

enabled 



33^ HISTORY OF TOE FIRST MlNOS, 8ct. 

enabled him fometimes to take them as models 
for his own. 

After having governed his people with great 
wifdom and moderation, he died in the ifle of 
Crete, and this irifcription was placed upon hb 
tomb: 

" MINOS, SON OF JUPITER.' 8 

The Cretans afterwards wiftiing to infpire a be- 
iief that this was the tomb of Jupiter himfelf* 
effaced the name of Minos. 

The poets, to add greater celebrity to the equity 
of this prince, defcribed him as principal judge of 
the infernal regions $ iEacus arid Rhadamanthus 
were joint with him in this office, but both yielded 
the fuperiority to Minos. 

To exprefs this fuperiority, he was reprefented 
with a fceptre, and near him was an urn which 
contained the fate of mortals. 

The Arundelian marbles make this prince con- 
temporary with Pandion, firft king of Athens. 

Rhadamanthus, brother of Minos, was a prince 
remarkable for his wifdom, modefly and temper- 
ance. His great prudence and virtue made him 
frequently confulted by Minos in the foundation 
or execution of his laws. Being fent by Minos 
to eftabliin thefe laws in the Archipelago, he gained 
poffeffion of feveral neighbouring iflands entirely 



HISTORY OF THE SECOND MINOS, &C. 337 

by the power of his perfuafion and eloquence. 
His love of juftice led the poets to rank him among 
the infernal judges. 

Sarpedon, brother of Minos and Rhadamanthus, 
difputing the crown of Crete, was vanquifhed, and 
obliged to fly into Caria, where he built the city 
Miletus ; he then penetrated farther into Afia, and 
arrived at the country of the Milyades, which a 
fhort time after afTumed the name of Lycia, from' 
Lycus, king of Pandion, and brother of .ZEgeus, who 
took refuge there. 

This Sarpedon muft not be confounded with 
that of the fame name, mentioned by Homer, 
who reigned in Lycia, about a century after the 
former, and led to the fiege of Troy the Lycians, 
* who inhabited the banks of the river Xanthus, 



HISTORY of the SECOND MINOS. — STORY of the 
MINOTAUR.— FIRST EXPLOITS of THESEUS. 

After the death of Minos the firflr, 
Lycaftes his fon fucceeded to the throne. His 
reign contained nothing remarkable, and his me- 
mory was foon obliterated by his fon, the fecond 
Minos, fo celebrated for his power and conquefts. 
Never could prince before his time boaft of fuch 
numerous fleets s with thefc he quickly made him<- 



33$ HISTORY OF THE SECOND MINOS. 

felf mafter of the neighbouring ifles. At 1^ 
arrived at the higher! pitch of glory, he faw his 
peace and happinefs deftroyed by a circumfiancc 
which we fhall here relate. 

As the celebration of the Panathense always 
drew to Athens the moil confiderable perfons of 
Greece, Minos wilhed his fon Androgeos to be 
likev/ife there. This young prince carried off 
every prize, and acquired general efteem and 
admiration. He cemented the molt tender friend- 
fhip with the Tons of Pallas, brother to .ZEgeus, 
king of Athens. This connection excited the jea- 
loufy of iEge-us, as at that time Thefeus his fon 
and heir to the throne was not acknowledged. 
The friendfhip of Androgeos for the Pallantides, 
infpired iEgeus with a fpecies of terror 5 he feared 
left Minos, by the perfuafion of the fons of Pallas, 
mould employ his forces to deprive him of his 
kingdom. To free himfelf from fo many cares 
and apprehenfions, he caufed Androgeos to be 
arTaffinated on the confines of Attica as he was 
returning to his father. But this crime did not 
remain long unpunifhed 3 Minos prepared a fleet 
and invaded Attica, before they were in any con 
dition to oppofe him. Nyfa, a city near Athens, 
which derived its name from Nyfus, brother of 
iEgeus, was the firft which felt the power of his 
arms : yet, though taken by furprife, it could have 
made a vigorous refiftance had it not have been 

for 



HISTORY OF THE SECOND MINOSJ 339 

for the treachery of Scylla, daughter of Nyfus* 
Perceiving Minos from the battlements of the 
city, me conceived a moft defperate paffion for 
him. Acquainted with the fecreCs of her father 
and all his refolutions, fhe communicated them to 
Minos, and found means to convey to him the 
keys of the city, which me fecretly ftole during 
the night. 

The Cretan monarch profited by this abomina- 
ble treachery to gain pofTeffion of the city, but 
flruck with horror at the bafenefs of the perpetra- 
tor, he refufed to fee her^ and Scylla, flung with 
fhame and remorfe for a crime fo dreadful and fa 
fruitlefs, threw herfelf into the fea. The Greeks 
afhamed of having fuffered themfelves to be fur- 
prized, wifhed to conceal the caufe of their defeat 
by pretending that the deftiny of Nyfa depended on 
a fatal lock of hair which grew upon the head of 
Nyfus. They faid, that Scylla having fecre,tly 
gained poffeffion of it and fent it to Minos, their 
city foon after fell into his hands. The poets 
added, that Scylla was transformed into a lark* 
and her father Nyfus into a hawk, and that he is 
feen continually purfuing his daughter to punifh 
her bafenefs. Megareus arriving too late for the 
belief of Nyfa, rebuilt it after the departure of 
MinoSi and furrounded it with walls of fuch great 
beauty that they were faid to be the workmanfhip 
«f Apollo. From that time this city bore the 

$ % 1 nam§ 



340 HISTORY OF THE SECOND MINOS. 

name of Megara. The deftruction of Nyfa did 
not fatisfy the vengeance of Minos, he proceeded 
to lay fiege to Athens. 

Heaven itfelf feemed to take part in his caufe. 
An extraordinary drought defolated all Greece, and 
the oracle being confulted, returned for anfwer, that 
the gods could only be appeafed by the prayers of 
iEacus. This procured relief for part of Greece, 
but heaven was inflexible to Athens and the reft of 
Attica. 

The Athenians under the impulfe of their terror 
became cruel, and upon the faith of an oracle, which 
commanded the facrifice of fome ftrangers, they 
violated the facred rights of holpitality, by offering 
up the daughters of a Lacedemonian, named Hya- 
cinthus, who had refided among them but a Ihort 
time. Finding their condition no better for this 
barbarous oblation, they again confulted the ora- 
cle, and were informed that they muft give the moft 
perfect fatisfaclion to Minos. Ambafladors were 
fent to implore the clemency of the victor; they 
obtained peace, but on condition that they Ihould 
fend every feventh year to Crete a tribute of feven 
youths, and as many young females. Who were 
to be the victims, was decided by lot. 

The vanquifhed Athenians endeavoured to bring 
an odium on the memory of this Minos, by invent- 
ing a fable which became extremely famous. 
According to this fable, the king of Crete ufed to 

confine 



HISTORY OF THE SECOND MINOS. 341 

confine his prifoners in the noted labyrinth 
conftructed by Dsedalus ; there they became the 
prey of the Minotaur, a monfter half man and half 
bull, the offspring of Pafiphae, wife of Minos. 
This monfter is merely the production of fancy. 
We learn from hiftory, that Minos inftituted fune- 
ral games in honour of his fon Androgeos. The 
Athenian prifoners became the reward of the 
victors at thefe games ; and the firft who obtained 
the prize was Taurus, a man of a haughty cruel 
difpofition, who treated his flaves with great feve- 
rity 5 this, together with his name, which fignifies 
bull, gave occafion to the ftory we have jufb 
related. 

The honour of delivering the Athenians from this 
difgraceful tribute was referved for Thefeus. The 
ambition of this young prince was to tread in the 
fteps of Hercules. Without being constrained by 
lot, he obtained of his father .ZEgeus permiffion to * 
accompany the prifoners. During the equipment 
of the vefTel deftined to tranfport them to Crete, 
numerous facrifices were offered to render , the 
gods propitious. Thefeus, on his arrival at the 
port of Phalera, made a folemn vow that he would 
fend every year to offer a facrifice in honour of 
Apollo at Delphos, and the oracle which he con- 
fulted returned for anfwer cc that love would be his 
guide." At the conclufion of the ceremonies the 
wind became favourable, and fetting fail he foon 

z 3 after 



34 i HISTORY OF THE SECOND MINOS. 

after landed in Crete. His youth, beauty anc| 
heroic deportment caught the eye of Ariadne^ 
daughter of Minos. -Determined to fave him 
from deftruction, me conveyed to him a ball of 
thread to affifl him in difentangling himfelf from 
the windings of the labyrinth. Thefeus arrived at 
the Minotaur, engaged and flew him. 

We mall now difencumber hiflory from the orna- 
ments of fiction. Some authors pretend that The- 
feus did not fight in the labyrinth, but publickly in 
the place where they celebrated the funeral games of 
Androgeos. They fay that the pretence of Ariadne 
infpired the hero with fuch courage, that he van T 
quilhed Taurus, and that this victory was not dif- 
pleafmg to Minos, as the infolence and ambition of 
this tyrant had already begun to give him umbrage. 
Other hiftorians of more weight and more conform- 
able to the circumflances of the fable, fay, that 
Ariadne fmitten with the charms of Thefeus, fur- 
nifhed him with arms to combat Taurus, and gave 
him a pi an of the labyrinth, which fhe had ob- 
tained from Dasdalus. That Thefeus by v this 
means made his efcape after the victory, accom- 
panied by Ariadne, and that both arrived in fafety 
at the ifle of Naxos. 

A fecond fable fays, that Thefeus abandoned 
his benefactrefs, but that Bacchus finding her 
overwhelmed with grief, had no great difficulty in 
perfuading her to forget one who had proved 

himfelf 



HISTOPvY OF THE SECOND MINOS. 343 

himfelf guilty at once of ingratitude and infidelity. 

Hiftory, however, contradicts this, and informs 
us, that Onarus, prieftj or rather confidential friend 
of Bacchus, carried off this princefs from the 
ifland of Naxos. That Bacchus foon obtained par- 
don for this violence, and efpoufed Ariadne. 

The crown which Bacchus prefented to. her 
was, by the poets, placed among the conflellations. 
Hiftory purfuing the relation adds, that from 
Naxos, Thefeus proceeded to the ifle of Delos, 
where he confecrated a frame from the hand of 
Dsdalus, which had been given him by Ariadne, 
and which recalled to his mind the too painful 
remembrance of his loft princefs. In this ifland he 
inftituted a dance called the Crane, in which were 
imitated the different windings of the labyrinth, 

Thefeus, ever thinking of Ariadne, and inconfo- 
lable for her lofs, forgot a promife which he had 
made his father iEgeus, the moment of his depar- 
ture. The veflfel which carried the prifoners had 
black fails, and Thefeus had promifed to hoift 
a white fiag if he returned victorious. For 
the reafons we have already given, the vefTel ap- 
peared in fight of Athens without the appoint- 
ed fignal, and the unhappy iEgeus, perceiving 
only the black fails, caft himfelf into the fea, 
and there perifhed. From that time the fea of 
Athens was called the iEgean fea. To perpetuate 
the remembrance of this fatal event, a chapel was 

z 4 built 



344 HISTORY OF THE SECOND MINOS* 

built upon the fea more, in which was feen a re- 
prefe.itation of Victory without wings, to fhew 
that the triumph of Thefeus was known too late. 
Thefeus, on his return to Athens, performed the 
laft duties to his father he inflituted feafls, the 
expence of which was defrayed by the families of 
thofe prifoners whom he had reftored to liberty. 

He caufed medals to be ftruck, on which were 
feen the reprefentation of a bull 3 but nothing 
rendered the commemoration of this victory fo 
famous, as the care with which the vow made by 
Thefeus to Apollo was afterwards executed. Every 
year were fent to Delos ambaffadors crowned 
with olive branches. This embaffy was called 
Theoria, or a vifit to the god ; and to tranfport 
them, the veffel was employed in which Thefeus 
had failed. So carefully did they preferve it and 
keep it in repair, that it ftill exifted near a thou- 
fand years after the death of Thefeus. From the 
moment the high-prieft had purified this veffel, 
till that of its return, no public executions took 
place in Attica. After the Bight of Thefeus, 
Minos, determining to punifh D^dalus for having 
favoured the efcape of this prince, imprifoned him 
with his fon Icarus in the labyrinth, which that 
ingenious man had himfelf conftructed ; but hav- 
ing eafily unravelled its intricacies, the doors were 
opened for him by Pafiphae, wife of Minos, who 
likewife procured him a veffel, to which he fattened 

fails, 



HISTORY OF THE SECOND MINOS. 345 

fails, till that time unknown to the Athenians. 
By the help of a favourable wind he outfailed 
the galley of Minos, who was purfuing him, 
though provided with a number of excellent 
rowers. Dasdajus, having efcaped from his for- 
midable enemy, came to an ifland at a great dis- 
tance from the main land, and there his fon Ica- 
rus, defeending from the fhip with too much pre- 
cipitation, fell into the fea and was drowned. 

The pbets, to celebrate this flight, pretended 
that Daedalus had formed himfelf wings and de- 
fcribed the death of Icarus by faying, that neglect- 
ing the council of his father, he had attempted 
to foar near the fun but that the heat melting the 
wax with which his wings were attached to his 
body, he fell into the fea, and there perifhed. 
This fea was afterwards called the Icarian fea. — 
Dasdalus being at laft arrived in Sicily, there found 
with Cocalus an afylum which had been refufed 
him by feveral princes, from their dread of the 
power of Minos. — But even here he was not at 
reft, Minos purfued him into Sicily, and fum- 
moned Cocalus to give him up his prifoner.— 
Cocalus, unwilling to violate the rights of hofpitaii- 
ty, and forefeeing the advantage he might derive 
from a man of fuch diftinguifhed talents, propofed 
to Minos to fettle the affair in an amicable man- 
ner. This prince imprudently accepted the offer. 
Cocalus received him with every mark of dif- 

tin&ion ; 



34$ HISTORY OF THE SECOND MINOS. 

tinction ; but thefe exterior marks of refpect con- 
cealed the blackeft defign ; he invited him to en- 
ter a bath, and there caufed him to be fuffocated. 
To conceal his treachery, he affected the moft 
lively grief for the death of Minos, and reftored 
the body to his foldiers, who interred it fecretly. 
The better to conceal the place of his interment, 
3 temple was erected to Venus over it, which af- 
terwards became very famous. Some centuries 
after, in building die city of Agrige mum,* this tomb 
was difcovered, and the allies of that prince ■ col- 
lected, and fent to the ifland of Crete. Thus 
died the fecond Minos, who would have been 
efteemed one of the greateft princes of his time, 
had it not been for the malignity of the tragic 
poets, who conftantly endeavoured to fix a re- 
proach upon his memory. As there were two of 
the name of Minos^ who are frequently confounded 
together, to diftinguifh them we muft remark, 
that the firft v/as fon of Jupiter Afterius and 
Europa the fecond, of Lycaftus and Ida, daugh- 
ter of Corybas. The firft had two brothers, 
Rhadamanthus and Sarpedon. The fecond had 
none. The firft had only two children, Lycaftus 
and Acacadilla i the fecond was father to Andro- 
geos, Glaucus, Deucalion, Molus, Ariadne, and 
Phsedra. The firft was a peaceful prince, a lover 
<jfjufti.ee and retirement - 3 the fecond was a war- 
rior and a conqueror, whofe peace was conftantly 

3 d * f ~ 



PH/EDRA AND HIP-POLYTUS. 



347 



diiturbed by domeltic misfortunes, After the 
death of the fecond Minos, -Deucalion mounted 
the throne, and was fucceeded by Idomeneu.s 
his fon. This laft diftinguimed himfelf much at 
the fiege of Troy, but in his return was forced to 
quit his kingdom and retire into Italy, where he 
founded the city of Tarentum. The illuftrious 
author of Telemachus has treated this part of the 
hiftory of Idomeneus in a manner which has pro- 
cured him immortal honour. 



HISTORY OF PH^DRA AND HIPPOLYTUS. 



Deucalion his fon afcended the throne of Crete. The- 
feus fent to him to demand his fifter Phcedra in mar- 
riage. His requeft was granted but the blood of 
Minos was fated to be deftructive to the repofe of 
Thefeus. This princefs, on her arrival at Athens, cart 
her eyes on the young Hippolytus, fon of Thefeus 
and the Amazon Antiope ; this fight was fuffici- 
ent to kindle in her bofom the moil criminal and 
deadly paflion. Pretending a defire to appeafe 
Venus, the implacable enemy of her houfe, me 
built a temple to her on a mountain; here me 
daily reforted to offer frefh facrifice, but her de- 
votion proceeded from another motive. From 




fter the death of the fecond Minos, 



the 



34§ PHJSDRA AND HIPPOLYTUS. 

the top of this mountain me could fee Hippolytus 
in a plain below > difplay his ftrength, addrefs, 
and grace in performing his exercifes. 

She herfelf gave the name of Hippolytion to 
this temple, and it afterwards was called the temple 
of Venus the Obferver. The indifference and con- 
tempt of Hippolytus rendered life a burden to 
her 5 Ihame and defpair at having made an unfuc- 
cefsful declaration, determined her to put a period 
to her exiftence but unwilling to die without re- 
venge, me left behind her a letter, importing, 
that Hippolytus was the moll criminal of men, 
and the only caufe of her death. 

Thefeus, (truck with horror at the fight of this 
proof of his guilt, fent immediately for Hippoly- 
tus, to punifh him for the attempt of which Phae- 
dra had accufed him. 

The young prince haftened to obey the fum- 
tnons in all the fecurity of innocence ; but his 
horiis., urged by the whip, flew with him over 
rocks, which breaking the axle of his carriage, 
his feet became entangled in the harnefs, and thus 
unfortunately perifhed this youthful hero. Some 
authors relate his death in a different manner. 
They fay, that he arrived in prefen.ce of his father, 
and lofi: his life -as he was leaving Trcezene, 
from which his father had banifhed him, loaded 
with maledictions. The unhappy Hippolytus, 
forrowfully reflecting on the unjuft difpleafure 

of 



PHJEDRA AND HIPPOLYTUS. £49 

of his father, had no thought of guiding his 
hor fes, which drew him over a precipice, where 
he perifhed. This ftory has produced feveral 
mafterly performances, of which the beautiful 
tragedy of Racine mud be confidered as the 
principal. 

The poets likewife took pofTeiTion of this event. 
They pretended that Thefeus implored the af- 
fiftance of Neptune, and claimed the accom- 
pli ih men t of the promife made by that god to 
grant his firft petition. This too credulous and 
difconfolate father, unwilling to embrue his hands 
in the blood of his own fon, abandoned him to 
the wrath of Neptune, who raifed from the bot- 
tom of the ocean a horrible monfter, which fo 
terrified the horfes of Hippolytus, that they ran 
precipitately with him over rocks, and occafioned 
his death in the manner already related. 

Thefeus, when too late, difcovered the inno- 
cence of his fon, and the fable adds, that Efcula- 
pius, god of medicine, reftored him to life but 
the Athenians, who were witnerTes to the death 
of this young prince, conftantly rejected this fa- 
ble. In procefs of time, Hippolytus was adored 
as a divinity at Trcezene. Diomedes raifed a 
temple to him, and rendered him divine honours. 
The Trcezenians affirmed that he was not dead, but 
that he was placed among the conftellations as 
conductor of Charles's wain. In the time of Numa 
1 Pompilius: 



35° HISTORY OF DAEDALUS Atf& 

Pompiiius there appeared an impoftor of the name 
of Hippolytus, who inhabited the fore ft of Aricia". 
He affumed the furname' of Virbjius, twice a man-; 
and gave out that he had been reftored td 
iife by Efculapius. It appears that it was this 
pretended Hippolytus who gave occafion to the' 
ftory of Efculapius being flruck dead by Jupiter, 
for having reftored a mortal to life. 

This fable was unknown to the Athenians, and 
by no means agrees with the opinion entertained 
by theTroezenians concerning the true Hippolytus.- 



HISTORY OF D^DALUS AND THE CRETAN 
LABYRINTH. 

Daedalus great grandfon of Erectheusy 
king of Athens, was the moft ingenious and cele- 
brated artift of Greece ; a fkilful architect and 
expert fculptor. 

It was his fertile genius which invented the 
axe, the level, and the auger. The honour of 
having firftmade ufe of fails is likewife afcribed to 
him, but for nothing was he more famous than for 
the perfection he attained in the art of fculpture i 
his ftatues were faid to be animated, and it was pre- 
tended that they even walked. This fable isr 
founded upon the flow progrefs which the Greeks 



THE CRETAN LABYRINTH. 



had made in fculpture, before the time of Daedalus. 
Their itatues, which were extremely rude, and 
inelegant, had neither eyes, arms, nor legs. Some 
of thefe fhapelefs maLTes are dill to be feen in the 
cabinets of the curious. Dsdalus in making his 
ftatues, took the human form for his model, and 
exactly obferved its proportions. He gave them 
eyes, even fucceeded in producing a refemblance, 
added arms to the body, and feparated the legs 
like thofe of a man in the act of walking. He after- 
wards however became more famous by his riiit 
fortunes than by his performances. Minos was 
formidable to all Greece, audit was with ailonim- 
ment they faw a fingle individual elude his ven- 
geance, and brave his power, merely by the efforts 
of his own genius. Unhappily for this artift he 
was not fuperior to jealoufy, which involved him 
in guilt and eclipfed his glory. He had taken 
delight in inflrucling Talus one of his nephews. 
The pupil foon became equal to his matter ; he 
invented the potter's wheel and having one day 
found the jaw of a ferpent with fharp teeth, he 
made ufe of it in cutting a piece of wood: from 
this he caught the idea of a faw, an inftrument fo 
fimple, and yet fo ufeful. 

Dsedalus poiferTed too much penetration not to 
perceive that fuch inventions were of real fervice 
to mankind, and rendered the difcoverers of them 
immortal. Fearful of being furpafled by Talus, he 

found 



&5 2 HISTORY OF DiL'DALUS AND 

found means fecretly to make away with him. He 
was furprifed in the acl: of filling up a grave, and 
being interrogated concerning this extraordinary 
occupation, he anfwered, that he had been bury- 
ing a ferpent. This, by exciting fufpicion, led to 
the difcovery of the crime. He was condemned 
to die by the Areopagus, but this fentence was 
afterwards mitigated to perpetual banifhment. So 
de tellable an action having rendered him odious at 
Athens, he took refuge in Crete, where for his 
extraordinary abilities he was gladly received by 
Minos. It was during his refidence in this ifle, 
that he built the famous labyrinth near the city of 
GnofTus. 

Pliny allures us, that Dsdalus had been in Egypt, 
and had taken the model of his labyrinth from that 
near Thebes, one of the wonders of the worlds but 
it is certain that he only imitated the windings and 
the chambers of the paffages, which do not con- 
ftitute an hundredth part of the Egyptian labyrinth. 

In the time of Pliny, the Cretan labyrinth no 
longer exifted; whereas to this day are feen the 
immenfe and magnificent veftiges 6f that of Egypt, 
though built ages before the other. The labyrinth 
of Crete feems to have been nothing more than a 
vail prifon. Some authors fay only a quarry from 
whence the {tone was drawn which was employed 
in building the principal cities of Crete. 

However that were, Daedalus, obliged to fly from 

Minos, 



HISTORICAL ACCOUNTS OP THESEUS, 25Z 

hos took flicker in Sicily, where probably he paffed 
the reft of his days. The time and manner of his 
death are unknown. To exprefs his gratitude to 
Cocalus, he formed a canal which receives the river 
Alabas now called Cantera. On a rock near the 
city of Agrigentum he built a ftrong citadel, the 
avenues to which were fo difficult, that they might 
be defended by an inconfiderable number of men. 
Here Cocalus refided. The works of Dasdalus 
were certainly numerous, but in the courfe of time, 
from his great reputation, all thofe which poffeffed 
any great excellence were attributed to him. 

With refpedt, to Talus, the poets feigned that 
being thrown by his uncle Daedalus from the top of 
the citadel of Minerva, he was by that goddefs, the 
proteclrefs of the arts, metamorphofed into a par- 
tridge. 

The moft fkilful of the pupils of Dasdalus was 
Eudocus ; he was at the fame time the mod grateful. 
In all his misfortunes he never abandoned his 
matter. He is likewife the only one whofe name 
has defcended to poflerity* 

DIFFERENT HISTORICAL ACCOUNTS CON- 
CERNING THESEUS. 

Theseus paffed for the fon of Neptune 
and iEthra; but was in reality fon of /Egeus, king 
of Athens, who was lineally defcended from the 

A a great 



354 HISTORICAL ACCOUNTS OF THESE ITS. 

great Erectheus, king of Attica, and feveral other 
countries. Thefeus, by his mother's fide, was 
grandfon of Pelops, king of Peloponnefus, one of 
the mod powerful princes of his time. 

Pelops had feveral children, one of whom, named 
Pittheus, formed the city of Trcezene, and had a 
daughter called iEthra, who became the wife of 
if£geus. This prince compelled by neceffity to 
leave her, before his departure carefully concealed 
a fword under the fragment of a rock, ordering 
iEthra if me mould have a fbn, to keep him till 
he mould have flrength to raife that ftone and take 
poffeffion of the fword, promifing to acknowledge 
him, on bringing that proof of his birth. Thefeus 
from his earlieft infancy announced by his every 
action, that he would one day be a great hero- 
Hercules coming to vifit Pittheus whilft he was at 
table, laid afide his lion's fkin ; feveral children 
were terrified at feeing the form of this terrible 
beaft, but Thefeus, then only feven years of age, 
feizing an axe which a flave held in his hand, ad- 
vanced to combat the animal. iEthra having feen 
frequent proofs of the courage of her fon, at laft 
difclofed to him the fecret of his birth, on which 
he raifed up the ftone, took poffeffion of the fword, 
and fet out from Trcezene for the purpofe of ma- 
king himfelf known to his father iEgeus, In his 
way thither he delivered the roads from feveral 
robbers and wild beafts which infelted them. 

His 



HISTORICAL ACCOUNTS OF THESEUS. 355 

His firft exploit was to attack Periphates, who, 
armed with a bar of iron, lay wait for pafTengers in 
the environs of Epidaiirus and killed them. The- 
feus conquered and flew him, and ever after pre- 
ferved this weapon as a monument of his firft victory. 

On his arrival at Athens, he found the houfe 
of j^Egeus involved in the greateft calamities. Ac- 
cording to the accounts of the poets, Medea had 
taken refuge there, and formed the project of 
marrying iEgeus. They fay that her (kill in magic 
enabling her to penetrate into every thing, fhe 
eafily difcovered the youthful Thefeus; that re- 
garding him as an obftacle to her defigns, and 
certain that the king did not yet know him to be 
his fon> me infufed fufpicions intoiEgeus, and per- 
fuaded him to poifon Thefeus at a banquet. The 
fatal cup was prepared, and the innocent youth drew 
near to receive it, but firft unlheathed his fword, 
and brandimed it before the king's eyes* That 
inftant he was acknowledged by iEgeus, who dallied 
away the cup, and declared him publickly his fon 
and fucceffbr to his throne. Pallas, fon of Pandion, 
had fome pretenfions to this throne ; he regarded 
iEgeus himfelf as a ftranger to the royal blood of 
the Ereclhides, and having taken arms to difpoflefs 
him of the kingdom, was defeated and flain with 
his adherents by Thefeus. After this victory, 
Thefeus went to engage the bull of Marathon, 
which he took alive, and afterwards facrificed. It 
a a 2 was 



HISTORICAL ACCOUNTS OP THESEtfS. 

was a fhort time after this, that he undertook tti 
deliver his country from the Ihameful tribute im~ 
pofedupon it by the fecond Minos. 

This account of the poets is a mixture of the 
fabulous and hiftoricaL 

We fhall fee in the hiftory of Medea, that thitf 
too famous woman could not poffibly be prefent at 
the court of iEgeus when he recognized his fon, 
and that confequently the poets have attributed to 
her crimes of which me never was guilty. 

Thefeus accompanied the Argonauts to the 
conqueft of the Golden Fleece. He went with 
Hercules to the war of the Amazons. He was 
with Pirithous at the battle between the Centaurs 
and the LapithiE, and with Meleager at the hunt of 
the Caledonian boar. 

It was this hero who exterminated two tyrants of 
Sicily, famous for their crimes and barbarity. 

The firft, called Phalaris, enclofed men alive in a 
brazen bull, and then placed a flow fire under it, 
when the cries of the fuffering wretches refembled 
the bellowing of a bull. Perillus, the inventor of 
this horrible machine, was the nrft who proved^his 
own work, being put into it by the command of 
Phalaris. 

The fecond tyrant was called Procruftes. This 
monfcer ufed to place ftrangers on a bed of iron, and 
lop off that part of their body which exceeded the 
length of the bed. 

& Pirithous, 



HISTORICAL ACCOUNTS OF THESEUS. 357 

Pirithous, king of the Lapithae, a people of Thef- 
foly, contracted the moft intimate friendlhip with 
Thefeus. This prince having heard the exploits 
of Thefeus much boafted of, wilhed to become 
acquainted with him, and to make trial of his valour; 
but thefe two heroes upon knowing each other, far 
from fighting, mutually vowed an eternal friend- 
Ihip. Some time after, Pirithous efpoufed Deida- 
mia, likewife called Hippodamia, and invited 
Thefeus and the Centaurs to his nuptials. The 
latter being heated with wine attempted to carry off 
the bride, and killed feveral of the Lapithge who 
oppofed them. But this outrage on his friend was 
foon revenged by Thefeus, with the blood of the 
greater part of the Centaurs. Ceneus, one of the 
moft famous of the Lapithse, being crulhed under 
heap of trees, was feigned to have been metamor- 
phofed into a bird. 

Thefe Centaurs were a people of Thefialy, who 
hrft found out the art of breaking horfes, and em- 
ploying them in battle. This method of fighting 
caufed fo much aftonifhment, that in the hrft mo- 
ments of furprife horfes and men were fuppofed to 
be one animal, which they defcribed as half man, 
and half horfe. They were called Hippocentaures 
from the word hippos, horfe. 

The moft tender friendfhip, as we have faid, uni- 
ted Thefeus and Pirithous ; they engaged in feveral 
adventures together, fome of which were fuccefsful. 

a a 3 Helen, 



HISTORICAL ACCOUNTS: OF THESEUS.. 

Helen, daughter of Tyndarus, though at that time 
very young, was celebrated for her beauty through- 
out all Greece. Pirithous and Thefeus formed, 
the project of gaining porTeflion of her by force. 
For this purpofe they went to Sparta, and having 
fucceeded in their attempt, Helen fell, by lot to. 
Thefeus. 

To make fome compenfation to his friend Piri- 
thous, Thefeus promifed to accompany him into 
Epirus, and affiil him in the defign of carrying off 
Proferpine, wife of Aidoneus. This fecond enter- 
prize proved fatal to therru Pirithous was torn 
in pieces and devoured by the dogs of Aidoneus, 
and Thefeus being made prifoncr, did not reco- 
ver his liberty till granted to the intreaty of Her- 
cules. The prifon of Thefeus being in the ifland 
of Scyros, where are the lake Acherufa, and the 
rivers Acheron and Cocytus, the poets took 
occafion from this circumftance to feign, that he 
defcended into the infernal regions to carry off 
Proferpine, that he was confined by Pluto, and 
owed the reft oration of his liberty to the interceflion 
of Hercules. 

Thefeus had feveral wives. The firft was An- 
tiope, or Hippolyta, queen of the Amazons, and 
mother of Hippolytus, whofe hiftory we have al- 
ready given. Hercules bellowed her in marriage 
on Thefeus in reward for the afllftance he had receiv- 
ed from him in his war with thofe martial females. 

His 



HISTORICAL ACCOUNTS OF THESEUS. 359 

His next wife was Phsdra, daughter of the fecond 
Minos, fo well known for her criminal and fatal 
attachment to the young Hippolytus. 

During the imprifonment of Thefeus, the un- 
grateful Athenians, forgetful of his important fer- 
vices, took part with his enemies. Caftor and 
Pollux came at the head of a numerous army to 
recover their filler Helen. This was called the 
war of the Tyndarides. To give a better idea of 
the ingratitude of the Athenians, it is neceffary to 
recount the effential benefits they had derived 
from Hercules. He had united the twelve towns 
of Attica into the fmgle city of Athens, and no 
longer made laws but with their joint confent. 

This novel form of government exciting ge- 
neral curiofity, Athens was reforted to from all 
parts of Greece. Thefeus, fearful left fo great a 
number of ftrangers mould difturb the public order, 
divided the people into three bodies : the firft was 
compofed of the nobility j — the fecond of mecha- 
nics j— and the third of the peafantry. 

Whatever privileges they thought neceffary to 
their happinefs, were granted by Thefeus ; he only 
referved the right of fuperintending the preferva- 
tion of the laws. It was then he introduced the 
worlhip of the goddefs Pytho, or Perfuafion, to 
unite by her means their minds and interefts. 

He revived the Ifthmic Games, in honour of 
Neptune ; he carefully fupported and propagated 
a a 4 religion^ 



360 HISTORICAL ACCOUNTS OF THESEUS. 

religion, perceiving that this alone could curb the 
human paffions. He inftituted feafts which might 
be frequented with fafety, as he had, after the ex- 
ample of Hercules, delivered Greece from the 
robbers and wild beads which before infefled it. 

Thefeus, in uniting the twelve towns of Attica, 
had no other intention than to render the Athe- 
nians more powerful, and did not forefee that in 
ferving them he was deftroying his own authority. 
Before this time, each town having its particular 
intereft, had no thought of governing ; they feared 
the other towns which Thefeus might employ to 
retain them in obedience but by this union 
Thefeus had no more power at his difpofal. 

He had only referved for himfelf the fuperin- 
tendence of the laws, he could no longer enforce 
obedience to 1 them, and thus he annihilated his own 
power. 

In vain did he rely on the gratitude of the Athe- 
nians, in vain did he increafe the privileges of the 
people j it was perceived that he could not compel 
their obedience, they wifhed to have the authority 
in their own hands, and all the efforts of Thefeus 
to preferve his prerogatives feemed acts of tyranny 
or defpotiim. 

It might have been thought that Thefeus, covered 
with glory, had only to repofe himfelf in the en- 
joyment of public gratitude ; but the Athenians^ 
jealous even of the lhadow of power which re- 
mained 



HISTORICAL ACCOUNTS OF THESEUS. 36* 

mained to him, grew weary of the refpect they owed 
him j they flded with his enemies, bafely abandoned 
him, and forced him into exile. Perceiving the 
impoflibility of governing a corrupt people who 
wifned continually to be flattered, he fecretly fent 
his children into Eubasa to Elphenor, fon of Calco- 
don, and went himfelf to the town of Gagetta, where 
he imprecated the vengeance of the gods upon 
the ungrateful Athenians. This place is ftill called 
the field of Maledictions. After this, Thefeus 
embarked for the court of Lycomedes, king of the 
ifland of Scyros. This treacherous monarch, a 
friend of the Athenians, received him with hofpi- 
tality only the more effectually to deftroy him. 
Under pretence of mowing him the extent of the 
ifland and his numerous fleets, he led him to the 
top of a lofty rock from which he precipitated him 
headlong. 

Thus perilhed one of the moil illuftrious heroes 
we meet with in the annals of antiquity. 

His death happened during the thirteenth year 
of the reign of Mneftheus, who fucceeded him. 
It was not till after the death of this king that the 
children of Thefeus returned to Athens, and af- 
cended the throne. Thefe facts are attefted by 
the marbles of Paros, and all the glory which the 
Athenians afterwards acquired on fo many different 
occafions, could never efface the remembrance of 
iheir ingratitude. The fword of juftice is fre- 
quently 



1 



§6& HISTORICAL ACCOUNTS OF THESEUS. 

quently too feeble to punifh the crimes of a nation $ 
but impartial hiftory eternizes their fhame, devotes 
them to the cenfure of future ages, and to the 
deteftation of every lover of juftice and virtue. 
The .power of the Athenians was not great enough 
to prevent Greece and the whole univerfe from 
preferring the memory of Thefeus. After his 
death they called to mind his illuftrious actions, 
and his veneration for the gods $ they rendered 
him the honours granted to heroes, and even 
raifed him a temple. The Athenians themfelves 
feveral ages after, blufhing for the crime of their 
anceitors, endeavoured in fome meafure to expiate 
it, by honouring as a divinity the hero who was 
born among them. 

Thefeus, in imitation of Bacchus, had, during his 
life, confecrated his hair in the temple of Apollo. 
The manner in which he wore it was called ibefei~ 
desy as that of Bacchus was called after the name 
of that god. They were afterwards imitated by 
Hector. 

Thefeus had by Phaedra a celebrated fon called 
Demophoon. In his way to the Trojan war he 
was hofpitably received by Phillis, queen of Thrace 
and daughter to Lycurgus, who reigned over 
.part of the fame country. This princefs Demo- 
phoon married, but quitting her foon after, his 
unhappy wife, unable to fupport the pains of ab- 
ience, put a period to her exiftence. The poets 

pre- 



HISTORICAL ACCOUNTS OF THESEUS. 363 

pretended that me was changed into an almond 
tree. The name of Phillis nearly approaching to 
that of philla, an almond tree, gave occafion to 
this fable. They added, that the almond tree 
blooms early in the fpring, becaufe Phillis in this 
manner exprefled the joy me felt at the return 
of Demophoon, which happened in the fpring. 

Under the Archontate of Phasdon, Cimon per- 
fuaded the Athenians to fearch for the relics of 
the great Thefeus. The tomb was difcovered by 
rneans of an eagle which was turning up the earth 
with its beak, and on being opened was found to 
contain the afhes and arms of that unfortunate 
hero ; thefe the Athenians received with the great- 
eft veneration, and placed them in the middle of 
their city. 

Thefeus during his life had always been the 
friend of the unfortunate ; never was afiiftance 
implored of him in vain. It was therefore deter- 
mined that his burial place Ihould be for ever a 
facred and inviolable afylum for all who feared 
the violence of their perfecutors - 3 fo that long 
after his death, Thefeus was ftyled the benefactor 
of mankind, and the protector of the diftreffed. 



HISTORY 



3 6 4 



HISTORY OF &ERCULES, 



HISTORY OF HERCULES. 

We think we fhall oblige our readers by 
preferring them with what the author of the travels 
of Anacharfis has written upon this moft illuftrious 
of heroes, 

« His fame, and the monuments of his glory, reach 
to the very extremities of the globe. He was 
defcended from the kings of Argos, but paffed 
for the fon of Jupiter, and Aicmena, wife of Am- 
phytrion. 

cf His hiftory is a feries of prodigies, or rather it 
is the hiftory of all thofe who have borne the fame 
name and undergone the fame labours. Writers 
have exaggerated their exploits, united them in one 
man, and attributed to him every illuftrious action 
whofe author was unknown j they have loaded him 
with a glory which feems to redound upon the whole 
human fpecies, for the Hercules they adore is a 
phantom of grandeur raifed between heaven and 
earth, as it were, to fill up the interval. 

<f The real Hercules differed from other men in 
nothing but his ftrength, nor refembled the gods 
of the Greeks in any thing but his weaknefs." 

Among the moft celebrated of this name, Dio- 
ilorus Siculus diftinguilhes three. 

The firft travelled into Africa, and near Cadiz 

creeled 



HISTORY OF HERCULESj 36^ 

cre&ed thofe famous pillars which told the traveller 
that it was in vain to wilh to pafs beyond them. 

The fecond was born in Crete, among the Dac- 
tyli Idsei, and firft inftituted the Olympic Games. 

The'third, fon of Jupiter and Alcmena, was born 
at Thebes, and rendered himfelf famous by a thou- 
fand exploits. There exifted another Hercules, 
more ancient than the three we have' juft men- 
tioned, but as the Greek writers reckon more than 
forty of this name, it would be ufelefs and tedious 
to give an account of them. We muft however 
remark, that the origin of this name feems to be 
derived from the Phoenician word barokel, trader. 
It was a name given in general to chiefs of colonies, 
celebrated navigators, and illuftrious ftrangers. 
We are particularly confirmed in this opinion, on 
feeing that the Tyrian Hercules was called Thafius ; 
the Phoenician, Agenor$ the Grecian, Alceus, or 
Alcides; and the Egyptian, who was contem- 
porary with Ofiris and general of his troops, 
Ozochor. 

It was Thebes which gave birth to Alcides, the 
moft illuftrious of the name of Hercules. 

He was fon to Alcmena and Ampliytrion, a de- 
fendant of Perfeus. This prince, heir to Elec- 
trion in right of his wife, was appointed fuc.ceflbr 
to the kingdom of Mycense, and after him his fon, 
Alcides ; but Amphytrion, having accidentally kil- 
led his father in law Eleclrion, was obliged to fly 

\ and 



$66 HISTORY OF HERCULES* 

and efcape to Athens* Sthenelus then became 
king of Mycenae, and was fucceeded by his {on 
Euryftheus, who was born at the fame time as 
Alcides, fo that the latter found himfclf the fubjedt 
of Euryftheus. 

The great reputation of Hercules foon led the 
poets to intermix fiction with his hiftory* His 
ftrength, his courage, and his furprifing exploits 
flattered human vanity but the impofllbility of 
attaining the fame excellence, made them attribute 
to him divine extraction, and fay he was defcended 
from the fovereign of the gods. 

Jupiter, fays the fable, afTumed the form of Am- 
phytrion, and became the father of Alcides. The 
night on which the Thunderer practifed this fraud 
was of longer duration than ufual. Juno, jealous 
of the grandeur to which this hero was deftined, 
retarded the moment of his birth, in order to fecure 
the kingdom of Mycenae to Euryftheus by right of 
feniority. Knowing like wife that Jupiter had fworn 
an oath, that he who fhould be firft born, fhould 
have command over the other, fhe difguifed her* 
felf as an old woman, and under the name of Luci* 
na, feated herfelf at the door of Alcmena mut- 
tering magic incantations to retard the birth of 
Alcides. Galanthis, companion of Alcmena, having 
perceived her, deceived the goddefs by telling 
her that Alcmena was juft delivered of a fine 
child ; Juno furprifed, quitted her place, and that 

inftant 



Ml STORY OF HERCULES* 36^ 

inftant Hercules was born ; enraged at being thus 
difappointed, ihe changed Galanthis into a weafel. 

Juno conftantly purfued Hercules with the moil: 
Implacable hatred ; when an infant in the cradle 
fhe fent two ferpents to devour him, but the, 
young hero ftrangled them both with his hands. 

However, atthe intreaty of Minerva, fhe relaxed 
of her i« verity againft Hercules, and even went fo 
far as to nourifh him with her own milk, fome 
drops of which efcaping his lips, formed that 
part of heaven fmce called the milky way. (This is 
an innumerable multitude of ftars which give greater 
luftre to that part of heaven.) The thunder was heard 
to roll the moment Hercules was born, and this 
the poets pretend was a prefage of his future 
greatnefs. Such are the principal fables which 
adorn the account of the birth of this hero, let us 
remove thefe veils, and return to his hiftory. 

Euryftheus, fon of Sthenelus, on afcending the 
throne of Mycenae, became jealous of Hercules, 
The rights of that hero, and his courage, gave him 
great alarm j he fought every opportunity of en- 
gaging him in fome enterprife, and even of ex- 
pofing his life on many occafions. Greece was 
at that time over- run with robbers, murderers 
and wild beafts it was in combating thefe the 
whole life of Hercules was employed, and the poets 
have defcribed his perpetual and dangerous labours 
by reprefenting them as the perfections of Juno. 

1 Hercules 



368 HISTORY OF HERCULES; 

Hercules was brought up by Creon, king of Thebes^ 
who beftowed great pains on the cultivation of his 
mind* The great courage he difplayed from his 
earlieft infancy determined Creon to give him in 
marriage Megara his daughter, by whom he had 
feveral children. 

Having learned that all , his life he mould be 
fbbjecl: to the commands of Euryftheus, he fell into 
fo violent a rage, that, no longer knowing any 
thing around him, he maifacred his own children, 
and his coufin lolas. When his fury abated, his 
grief and regret were fo great, that he would 
no longer live at Thebes, but went to procure 
expiation for his involuntary crime at Athens*, and 
returned to fubmit himfelf to the orders of Eu- 
ryftheus. This prince found his repentance fo 
fincere, and his fubmiffion fo undiflembled, that 
he entrufted him with the command of his ar- 
mies, taking care,, however, to engage him per- 
petually in new enterprifcs. The poets attributed 
this exceffive fury to the jealoufy of Juno ; they 
pretended that Pallas by cafting a ftone reftored 
him to tranquillity, and threw him into a pro- 
found fleep. This is an allegory, defcriptive of 
the anxious folicitude of his friends, and the pru- 
dent refolutions which, upon cool reflection, he 
adopted. Hercules regarding his marriage as in- 
aufpicious, feparated from his wife Megara, and 

gave 



IABOURS OF HERCULES. 369 

gave her in marriage to the fecond Iotas, his faith- 
ful companion in all his undertakings. 

# 

EXPLANATION OF THE LABOURS OF 
HERCULES. 

The firft exploit of* Hercules was to kill 
two dreadful ferpents. His extreme youth caufed 
it to be faid that Juno had fent them to devour 
him in his cradle, and that by his ftrangiing them 
he gave a proof of his being defcended from Ju- 
piter. He hunted feveral lions in the foreft of 
Nemea : one among them which was greater than 
the reft he flew himfelf, and ever after wore its ikin 
as a covering. 

To give this combat more of the marvellous, 
the fable relates, that Juno fent this lion againft 
him, and that when killed by Hercules, the god- 
defs placed it among the conftellations* The 
kings of Syria, in imitation of Hercules, ufed 
likewhe to adorn themfelves with the ikin of a lion. 

Birds near the lake Stymphalus laid wafte Ar- 
cadia y Hercules with a great noife purfued and 
drove them out of the country. This is the fable^ 
we fhall now give the hiftory. 

This country was infefted with robbers, who 
concealed themfelves in the woods which cover 
the banks of the lake Stymphalus. Hercules 

B b went 



$jO LABOURS OF HERCULES. 

went in purfuit of them, and frightened them out 
of the woods by beating upon brazen kettle 
drums. Being thus driven from their retreat, 
they were defeated and exterminated. Thefe arc 
the birds Stymphalides, which are frequently con- 
founded with the Harpies, from which however 
they ought always to be diftinguifhed. 

The marfhes of Lerna, near Argos, abounded 
with ferpents, which Teemed to increafe as faft. as 
they were deftroyed. Hercules, entirely to extir- 
pate them, fet fire to the reeds, and thefe marfhes 
being afterwards cultivated became exceedingly 
fertile, which occafioned it to be faid, that he had 
employed a golden fcythe to cut off the heads of 
the Hydra, which were feigned to fpring again as 
faft as fevered from the body. It appears like- 
wife that among thefe ferpents, there was a fpecies 
particularly venomous called Hydros, which gave 
rife to the ftory of the Hydra of Juno. Hercules 
fteeped his arrows in the venom of this ferpent, 
which rendered the wounds given by them incur- 
able. Juno, continues the fable, feeing that 
Hercules had almoft vanquilhed the Hydra, fent 
a fea crab to divert him from the combat by biting 
his heel ; this Hercules crufhed, and it was by 
Juno transformed into the fzgn Cancer. 

The foreft Erymarithus was over-run with wild 
boars. Hercules hunted and deftroyed them, 
tarrying the head of the largeft as, a prefent to 

Euryf* 



LABOURS OF HERCULES. 37 1 

Euryftheus; who thinking it was not yet dead 
was fo terrified, that he ran and concealed him- 
felf. The tufks of this boar were long preferved 
in the temple of Apollo. 

Euryftheus ordered Hercules to bring him a 
hind very remarkable for its addrefs in eluding 
the hunters. In accomplishing this, the hero was 
a whole year, but at laft fucceeded in taking it 
alive. It was pretended that this animal had feet 
of brafs ; an allegory intended to defer ibe the rapi- 
dity with which it ran ; and ftill more to increafe 
the marvellous, they gave it horns of gold. 

Augeas, king of Elis, had fuch numerous flocks, 
that he had no ftable fufficiently large to contain 
them. In confequence he fuffered them to range 
over the fields, which being trodden down and 
covered with dirt, became unfit for cultivation. 
Hercules, at his entreaty, employed his troops in 
turning the courfe of the river Alpheus over thofe 
plains, which, by thus cleanfing them, rcdored 
their original fertility. This was the origin of the 
fable that the Arables of Augeas were cleanfed by a 
river. That avaricious prince having refufed the 
reward he had promifed for this fervice, Her- 
cules entered Elis, conquered and put to death 
both him and his fon Eurytus, but (pared Phi- 
leus, upon whom he bedewed the crown, becaufe 
he had endeavoured to perfuade his father from a 
conduct fo unjufl and ungrateful. 

b b 2 Aidoneus, 



3?2 LABOURS OF HERCULES. 

Aidoneus, king of Epirus, corning to the aflif- 
tance of Augeas, was defeated and wounded, 
which gave rife to the fable of Pluto combating 
Hercules, and being wounded by that hero, who 
was protected by Minerva during the battle. 

The ifland of Crete produced bulls of extraor- 
dinary beauty ; Euryftheus ordered Hercules to 
go and bring away by force the mod: beautiful, 
which he executed. This bull was according to 
the poets that of Pafiphae. 

Hercules received likewife orders to go and 
bring off the mares of Diomedes, who in attempt- 
ing to prevent him was killed. This prince was 
fo curious in his horfes, that to maintain a greater 
number of them, he ruined himfeif, and even fold 
his flaves. From this circumftance it was pre- 
tended, that he fed them with human flefn. 

Hercules, on his way into Spain, plundered the 
ifland of Cos, and defeated the famous Geryon, 
a giant with three bodies ; that is to fay, he de- 
feated a prince who reigned over the three iflands, 
Majorca, Minorca, , and Ebufa. 

On his arrival in Italy, Hercules made feveral 
conquefts 5 rendered confident by his courage and 
numerous victories, he took little precaution in, 
choofing his plan of encampment. 

Cacus, a petty tyrant, who refided among inac- 
ceffible rocks, furprifed him in the night, and car- 
ried off part of his booty. Hercules purfued him, 

befieged 



LABOURS OF HERCULES. 373 

bcficged him in his fortrefs, and flew him. This 
Cacus was faid to be defcended from Vulcan, and 
is defcribed as a giant with three heads, who fent 
forth flames of fire from his mouth and noftrils. 

Hercules, wifhing to eftablifh a colony on the 
coaft of Africa for the convenience of commerce, 
was repulfed by another adventurer, who was fo 
firmly eftablimed there, that it was impoflible to 
diflodge him. Hercules found means to draw him 
out to fea, and cutting him off from all communi- 
cation with the land, where he ufed to retire to 
repair his lofs, and procure frefh troops, there 
killed him. This victory gave rife to the fable of 
Antaeus a famous giant, fon of Terra. When 
fighting with Hercules he recovered new ftrength 
every time he touched the Earth his mother ; this be- 
ing perceived by Hercules, he caught him in his 
brawny arms, and holding him between heaven and 
earth thus flrangled him. This Antaeus built the 
little city of Tingi, which is now the town of Tan- 
gier. Sertorius many ages after had the tomb 
of this giant opened, and his bones were in reality 
found to be a prodigious fize. 

During the refidence of Hercules in Africa, the 
tyrant Bufiris fent pirates to carry off the Hefpe- 
rides, nieces to Atlas, king of Mauritania and Hef- 
peria. Thefe Hercules defeated, and afterwards 
attacked Bufiris himfelf, whom he vanquifhed and 
flew. To reward this fervice Atlas inftrucled him 

b b 3 in 



LABOURS OF HERCULES. 

in the principles of aftronomy, a fcience in which 
Hercules made fuch progrefs, that he was the firlt 
who difcovered that the Milky Way was only an 
affemblage of ftars. The poets defcribed this dif- 
covery by faying, that he had let fall fome drops 
of the milk of Juno upon that part of heaven. In 
the fame manner the aiTiftance which Hercules gave 
Atlas in his war againft Bufiris, was rep re fen ted 
by the fable of his having affifted him to fup- 
port the heavens upon his moulders. Atlas having 
prefented him with fome of the fined fheep of his 
country, and the Greek word exprefting equally 
fheep and apple, it was pretended that Hercules 
had received from the garden of the Hefperides 
apples of gold. 

This hero penetrated as far as Cadiz, which 
he regarded as the extremity of the world, be-> 
caufe at this point the fetting fun feems to fink 
into the ocean. Here he raifed two pillars* 
upon which he infcribed, ne plus ultra, which 
means it is impoffible to advance any farther. 
Bacchus, or rather Ofiris, did the fame in his 
Indian expedition. All the fabslous hiftorians 
fpeak of thefe pillars, and yet many learned cri- 
tics are of opinion they never exifted. They 
fay that this fable was occafioned by the two 
mountains called Calpe and Abyla, in the ftraits 
of Gibraltar, one of which frands in Africa, and 
the other in Europe, It was looked upon as ram, 

and 



LABOURS OF HERCULES. 375 

and even impofllble to advance beyond thefe moun- 
tains. However, in the temple, which the inhabi- 
tants of Cadiz raifed at fome diftance from their 
city to the honour of Hercules, were feen two 
magnificent pillars, and the Phoenician characters 
with which they were inferibed gave reafon to 
believe, that they had been erected by Hercules 
himfelf. The ancients attributed to thefe pillars 
the power of checking the impetuofity of the winds, 
and of preventing the ocean from being driven by 
their violence over the earth, and thus introducing 
the diforder and confufion which reigned in the 
time of Chaos. The fituation of this temple, as 
they fuppofed, on the confines of the world, its an- 
tiquity, its ever durable woods, its inferiptions, 
its hieroglyphicks, and the labours of Hercules, 
which the Greeks afterwards engraved there, all 
rendered it extremely famous. The inhabitants of 
Cadiz thought themfelves fecure from all dangers, 
becaufe they were under the immediate protection 
of the greateft of heroes. Theron, king of Spain, 
wifhing to pillage this temple, a panic fear dif- 
perfed his troops, and drove his fleet from the 
coaft. It is generally thought, that the expedition 
into Africa was the laft of the labours enjoined 
,> by Euryftheus. That prince now perceived, that 
he only encreafed the glory of Hercules, and that 
he had nothing to apprehend from his pretenfions 
to the throne. But repofe and inactivity did not 

5 £ 4 fult 



$j6, LABOURS OF HERCULES* 

fuit this hero. His courage continually led him to 
engage in fome new enterprize. He penetrated 
into the heart of Scythia to deliver Prometheus* 
as we have related in the firll part of this work. 

The river Achelous by overflowing its banks 
laid wafte the country of Calydon, and carried 
away the marks which diftinguiilied their refpeclive 
lands. Hercules conftru&ed dykes, and thus re- 
ft ore d peace to the Calydonians and Arcadians, 
who had often gone to war on this account. , The 
fable as we have already faid defcribed this under- 
taking as an actual combat with the river. It re- 
prefents Achelous as changed into a ferpent, to ex- 
prefs the windings of its courfe. He is metamor- 
phofed into a bull, becaufe this was the fymbol 
under which they reprefented rivers. Hercules 
tears off a horn, which means that he united two 
branches into one. This horn is exchanged for 
that of the goat Amakhea, which produced every 
blefFing, that is to fay, the ancient branch of the 
river was converted into fruitful land. CEneus, 
king of Calydon, rewarded this diftinguifhed fer- 
vice by giving Hercules in marriage his daughter 
Dejanira r who bore him afonnamed Hyllus. At the 
court of this king Hercules remained three years. 

The fable of the battle of Hercules with Ache- 
lous proves with what art the poets disfigured 
the mofl fimple events. In the fame manner they 
have difguifed the hiftory of Alcmaeon fon of Am- 

phiaraus. 



LABOURS 0E HERCULES. 377 

phiaraus. This prince having killed his mother, 
confulted the oracle, which anfwered, that he 
would never be delivered from the Furies till he 
inhabited a place upon which the fun did not fhine 
at the time he committed the crime. The river 
Achelous having in one of its inundations fwept 
away great mafles of earth, thefe foon formed 
themfelves into little iflands, upon one of which 
Ale mason took up his abode, and there found an 
afylum. Thefe iflands were called Echinades. 
The fabulous account of their origin is, that fome 
nymphs of this name having neglected Achelous in 
one of their facrifices, that god carried them away 
in his flream, and metamorphofed them all into 
heaps of earth and fand. 

Among the labours of Hercules we muft not 
forget the aftiftance he afforded Thefeus, when 
that hero with his friend Pirithous attempted to 
carry off Proferpine, wife of Aidoneus, king of 
Epirus. Pirithous we have already faid perifhed, 
and Thefeus was detained a prifoner. Hercules 
paffed into Epirus, delivered Thefeus, killed a 
ferpent that was retreating into the cave of 
Tasnarus, and brought away a maftiff of prodigious 
fize from the city of Tricaffia. Aidoneus was 
wounded by Hercules ; and as he inhabited the 
country which was called the infernal regions, it 
was pretended that Hercules had defcended into 

the 



378 LABOURS OF HERCULES. 

the manfions of the dead to deliver Thefeus, had 
bound Cerberus, and wounded Pluto himfelf. 

Hercules feems to have regarded his expedition 
againft Aidoneus as extremely perilous ; before he 
entered on it, he wiihed to be initiated at Athens 
into the myfteries ofEleufina. Mufeus, fon of Or- 
pheus, who prefidcd over thefe myfteries, reprefent- 
ed to him, that men could not be admitted - 3 but 
to avoid giving this formidable hero a pofitive re- 
fufal, he inftituted others on his account, which 
were called the little myfteries of Eleufina. After 
Hercules, thefe were admiftible to ftrangers. 

The deliverance of Alcefte is one of the mo ft bril- 
liant actions of Hercules. Medea, fays the fable, 
advifed the daughters ofPelias to cut their father 
in pieces, and boil his limbs with certain herbs which 
fhe mentioned, a Muring them that by this means 
his youth would be reftored in the fame manner as 
fhe had reftored that of iEfon, father of Jafon. 

The unhappy eld man was the victim of the cre- 
dulity of his daughters. Acaftus his fon purfued 
his filters to the court of Admetus, where they had 
taken refuge after their unintentional crime ; this 
prince was the lefs inclined to deliver them up, as 
fmitten with the charms of Alcefte he had already 
married her. Acaftus in confequence of this re- 
fufal laid wafte the country, and Admetus quitting 
his capital to repel thefe ravages was unhappily taken 
prifoner. It was then that Alcefte, obedient only 

to 



LABOURS OF HERCULES. 379 

to the dictates of conjugal affection, offered to fur- 
render herfelf into the 'hands of her brother, if he 
would reftore the liberty of Admetus. The ex- 
change was accepted, and Alcefte, fays the fable, 
had juft been offered up as a facrifice where Al- 
cides met Death and encountered him ; he found 
means to vanquim him, and binding him with 
chains of adamant, refufed to fet him at liberty on 
any other condition but that of reftoring Alcefte 
to life. Death was forced to accede to the terms, 
and Hercules conducted the tender, generous Al- 
cefte to her hufband Admetus. Hiftory makes no 
mention of the treacherous counfel given by Me- 
dea to the daughters of Pelias ; on the contrary we 
fhall fee in the hiftory of Jafon, that marry crimes 
were by the poets attributed to Medea of which 
Ihe never was guilty. It is not difficult to explain 
this ftory of Alcefte. Hiftory informs us, that 
Admetus being conquered by Acaftus, and taken 
prifoner, was obliged to deliver to him Alcefte : 
fhe had already paffed the river Acheron on her 
return to the dominions of her brother, when they 
were met by Alcides, who engaged Acaftus, and 
compelled him to give up Alcefte, whom he car- 
ried back to her hufband. 

In the time of Hercules the Amazons were very 
famous, and by their conquefts over their neigh^ 
hours, became extremely formidable. Euryftheus 
fent Hercules againft thefe illuftrious female war- 
riors, 



§8$ LABOURS OF HERCULES. 

siors, enjoining him to bring back their trcafures. 
This hero embarked on the Euxine fea, and ar- 
rived on the banks of the river Thermodon. He 
attacked thefe heroines, obtained a complete 
victory, and to reward the affiftance he had re- 
ceived from The feus, gave him in marriage An- 
tiope, orHippolyta, their queen, whom he had taken 
prifoner. Menalippe then afcended the vacant 
throne, and to obtain peace, confentcd to give up 
the major part of her riches. Thefe females, whofe 
territory was contiguous to that of the Scythians, 
would permit no man to refide among them $ they 
every year went to vifit their hufbands, and at 
thefe interviews, refigned to them all the male in- 
fants, referving the females, whom they brought 
up to the profeffion of arms. They had a cuftom 
of burning their right b re aft, to give them greater 
facility in drawing the bow. The hiftory of thefe 
warlike females has frequently been called in 
queftion, but the truth of their exiflence is attefted 
by Herodotus, Diodorus Siculus, Paufanias, Plu- 
tarch, and feveral other refpedable hiftorians. 
They reigned over that part of Scythia wfcich bor- 
ders on the river Thermodon. Penthefilea one of 
their queens carried afliitance to Priam, during the 
£ege of Troy, and was flain by Achilles. Quintus 
Curtius like wife affures us, that one of their queens 
'went to vifit Alexander. 

Hercules accompanied the Argonauts td the 
i conqueft 



LABOURS OF HERCULES. ' 381 

conqueft of the Golden Fleece, but did not go to 
the end of the expedition, landing in the road, in 
fearch of Hylas, who had either loft his way, or 
was drowned in going to fetch water for his com- 
panions. The Argonauts perceiving he did not 
return, purfued their courfe witnout him, and 
Hercules finding them gone directed his route to- 
wards the city of Troy, part of whofe walls had 
recently been warned away by an inundation of the 
fea. It was reported, that Neptune had taken this 
method of revenging himfelf on Laomedon, and 
that, to fave the city from definition, they muft 
expofe a virgin to be devoured by a fea monfter. 
The lot for this purpofe, fell upon Hefione, 
daughter of Laomedon. In the mean time, 
Hercules arrived and offered to deliver the 
princefs, on condition of receiving fix horfes, 
fwift as the wind, who could traverfe the waves 
without finking, (that is, fix good galleys, which 
were neceflary for his return.) Hefione was 
delivered, but Laomedon refufed the galleys. 
Enraged at his perfidy and ingratitude, Hercules 
attacked and took the city, carried off Hefione, 
whom he beflowed in marriage upon Telamon, 
killed Laomedon, and gave the crown to Podar- 
cus, that prince's fon. This fea monfter, was 
nothing but the inundation of the fea. The king 
promifed his daughter to whoever mould find 
means of defending the city from their ravages. 

This 



LABOURS OF HERCULES. , 

This Hercules effected, and punifhed Laomedon 
for having violated his word. Such is the origin of 
the fable we have jult related* 

It would be impodible to give an exact account 
of all the labours* combats and victories of Alcides, 
or rather of all the celebrated characters that have 
at different times borne the name of Hercules. 
He of Thebes was the moft illuftrious of all, and 
to him they attributed the heroick actions of all 
thofe who attempted to tread in his fteps. The 
Theban Hercules after having executed the labours 
impofed upon him by Euryftheus, and thofe which 
his own courage led him to undertake, conceived 
an ardent affection for lole, daughter of Eurytus j 
this paffion proved fatal to himfelf and to Dejanira 
whom he had efpoufed in Italy. The valour of 
Hercules could not protect him from the power 
of love ; fometimes his paffions even made him 
forgetful of his glory. Being fent for into Lydia 
to combat a monfcrous ferpent which defolated the 
country, he faw and wifhed to pleafe Omphale 
daughter to the king of that country. This prin- 
cefs, proud of her afcendency over fo great a hero, 
obliged him to degrade himfelf fo far as to fpin 
among her women. He exchanged his club for 
the diftaff, and laid afide the fkin of the Nemean 
lion to clothe himfelf in the attire of a woman y 
but this delufion could not continue long; he 
heard of new adventures, indignant burfl the chains 
2 that 



LABOURS OF HERCULES* 38$ 

that bound him, and thought no more of any thing 
but glory. Before we relate the manner of his 
death, we muft inform our readers, that a fhort 
time after his marriage with Dejanira he engaged 
in new expeditions. Being arrived at the banks of 
the little river Evenus, he found it by the melting 
of the fnows increafed to a rapid torrent. Nefius, 
whom the fable defcribes as a Centaur, (becaufe he 
was conftantly on horfeback) offered to take De- 
janira behind him, and tranfport her to the other 
fide, to which Hercules confented. Nefius being 
come to the oppofite bank, thinking himfelf fecure 
from Hercules, infulted and attempted to carry off 
Dejanira ; but the hero let fly an arrow fteeped in the 
blood of the Hydra, and gave him a mortal wound. 
Perceiving his death approach, Nefius gave his 
robe to Dejanira, aflfuring her that it had the pro- 
perty of preventing the affections of Hercules 
from wandering to another. The credulous De- 
janira preferved this fatal prefent, and having . 
perceived the tendernefs of Hercules for Iole, 
fent him the veil of NeiTus at the moment he 
Was going to fa'criflce on Mount QEta: but no 
fooner had he placed this deadly gift upon his 
body than, feized with frightful pains, he felt 
himfelf confumed by a devouring fire. He ran to 
confult the oracle, which having informed him 
that his difeafe admitted of no cure, he returned to 
mount CEta, accompanied by his friend Philoc- 

tetes - s 



LABOURS OF HERCULESr 

tetes j here with his own hands he raifed a pile 
which he covered with the fkin of the Nemean 
lion, and extending himfeif upon it, his head fup- 
ported by his club, gave orders to Philoctetes to 
fet it on fire. This faithful friend had fworn to 
obey him 5 he applied the fatal torch, and the hero, 
with his lafb looks exacting the execution of his 
promife, was in a few minutes reduced to afhes. 
Thus perifhed the valiant Alcides in the fifty- 
fecond year of his age, and about thirty years be- 
fore the war of Troy. The unhappy Dejanira, 
unable to furvive his lofs, died of grief at Trachina, 
and requeiled to be interred at the foot of mount 
CEta, near the city which was afterwards called 
Herculia. 

After the death of this hero he became the conftant 
fubjedt of poetical fiction. It was pretended that on 
his arrival in heaven he efpoufed Hebe, the goddefs 
of youth (in allufion to immortality.) Atlas, fays 
the fable, who bore the heavens upon his moulders 
felt fenfibly the additional increafe to his accuf- 
tomed burden* 

Hercules, according to the poets, having pre- 
ferred himfeif in the lifes at the Olympic Games, 
and meeting with none who dared oppofe him, 
Jupiter himfeif afTumed the form of a wrefller and 
encountered him. 

He likewife contended with Apollo, and 
attempted to carry off the tripod at Delphos. 

Hiftorj 



LABOURS OF HERCULES. 385 

Hiftory gives us the origin of this laft fable it 
fays that Hercules going to confult the oracle at 
Delphos, received an unfavourable anfwer from 
the prieftefs, which fo enraged him that he carried 
away the tripod from the temple ; but the Pythia 
having reproached him with injuftice, and with 
deviating from the fteps of the Egyptian Hercules, 
whom he had adopted as his model, he was fo 
ftruck with the rebuke that he returned the tripod. 

Before his death he impofed an oath upon Phi- 
loctetes that he would never difclofe the place of 
his interment, nor that where he had depofited his 
arrows. An oracle having foretold, that Troy 
could never be taken without the arrows of Her- 
cules, and the difcovery of his tomb, Ulyfles, 
the more eloquent and molt artful of the Greeks, 
was charged with this commhTion. Philoctetes 
dared not violate his oath, but either feduced or 
perfuaded, went fo far as to make a fign with his 
foot, which did not efcape the penetration of 
UlyiTes he difcovered the urn and the arrows, 
and prevailed on Philocletes to accompany him 
to the fiege of Troy. This breach of fidelity did 
not go unpunifhed. Philocletes having one day 
the arrows of Hercules in his hand, one of them 
flipped and fell upon the foot which had difclofed 
the fecret. The wound became lb angry and 
offenfive that his companions taking advantage 
of his abfence, abandoned him to his pains and 

C c remorfe 



386 HISTORY OF HERCULES* SUCCESSORS. 

remorfe on the ifland of Lemnos. This ungene- 
rous perfidy availed the Greeks but little, they 
were commanded by the oracle to make fatisfac- 
tion'to Philodtetes. UlyrTes was now employed 
to deprecate his anger, and was again fuccefsful; 
Philocletes fufFered himfelf to be conveyed to the ; 
Grecian camp, where his wound was cured by 
Machaon, Ton of Efculapius. 

Hercules is generally reprefented under the form 
of a man extremely robuft, leaning upon a club, 
his moulders covered with the fkin of the Nemean 
lion ; the head of which fometimes covering his 
own, gives him an appearance frill more terrible. 
His hair appears bufhy, and his beard ftrong and 
black. The furnames of this hero were as nume- 
rous as the countries which had been the theatre 
of his exploits. 



HISTORY of the SUCCESSORS of HERCULES. 

T his hero is fo celebrated that we think 
it our duty to give fome fhort account of his 
fucceflbrs. 

Ceyx took charge of the education of the 
children of Hercules. Euryftheus, apprehenfive 
of feeing them foon in a condition to affert 
their pretenfions to the crown of Mycenae, threat- 
ened the king of Trachine with a war, unlefs 

he 



HISTORY OF' HERCULES* SUCCESSORS. 387' 

he banifhed them from his court, as well as lolas, 
and the troops who were determined to follow the 
fortunes of Hercules and his children. Terrified 
at this threat, Ceyx ordered them to quit his do- 
minions. On their departure from him they were 
favourably received by Epalius, king of the Da- 
rians, who even adopted Hyllus, fon of Hercules, 
and Dejanira. It was thus he acknowledged his 
gratitude to that hero for having re-eltablifhed 
him in the pofTeflion of his throne. 

Some time after, the defcendants of Hercules 
were again compelled to fly, when Thefeus, a rela- 
tion and friend of Hercules, gave them an afylum 
in Attica. Euryflheus wifhing to drive them from 
hence alfo, the Athenians affembled their forces 
and gave him battle, under the conduct of Thefeus 
and Hyllus j this latter with his own hands killed 
Euryflheus, and with him perifhed his whole 
family. Such was the end of this branch of the 
fucceffors of Perfeus. The crown of Mycenae 
then defcended to the family of Pelops. Atreus, 
fon of that prince, was governor of Mycena?, and 
on the death of Euryflheus caufed himfelf to be 
declared king. 

The Heraclides went to eflablim themfelves in 
the Peloponnefus, of which they had made them- 
felves maflers but a peflilence having deftroyed 
their army,, they were informed by the oracle that 
it would not ceafe till they fhould leave the coun- 
c c 2 try 1 



388 HISTORY OF HERCULES' SUCCESSORS, 

try 5 the fame oracle commanded them not ta- 
re turn till after the third harveft. They departed, 
but thinking they had obeyed the oracle, returned 
at the end of three years. They were however 
defeated by Atreus, and Thomaeus one of the chiefs 
of the Heraclides was flain. Hyllus,, feeing that the 
war was likely to be protracted to a long period, pro- 
pofed to engage in fingle combat whoever mould be 
oppofed to him, on condition that if he came off 
conqueror, Atreus mould yield the crown of My- 
cenae to the Heraclides, but that in cafe he fhould 
be vanquished, his defcendants fhould not enter 
Peloponnefus till after the expiration of a century. 

Echemus, king of Arcadia, accepted his chal- 
lenge, killed Hyllus, and obliged the Heraclides 
to abandon Peloponnefus according to their own 
agreement. 

Clodeus, fon of Hyllus, after fome time again 
attempted, but in vain, to enter this country, he 
loft Ariftomachus, one of his fons, in the attempt, 

Temenes, Chrefphontes and Ariftodemus, his 
three remaining fons, having equipped a fleet at 
Naupaclus, Arnus, a famous augur at that time, 
wi&ed to join them, but being taken for a fpy 
was put to death. The peililence again breaking 
out, to procure a deliverance from it they inftituted 
games to his honour. The Heraclides at laft fuc- 
ceeded in gaining poffeffion of Argos, Lacedaemorj 
and Mycenae : they extended their conquefts, and 

fhortlv 



VOYAGE OP THE ARGONAUTS. 389 

jfhcrtly all Peloponnefus became fubjecl: to the. de- 
scendants of Hercules. This return of the Hera- 
clides happened about four hundred and eighty 
years after the capture of Troy, and conflitutes 
one of the principal epochs in the hiftory of Greece. 
It is even regarded as the mod exact of them all, 
which led us to believe that it would be of fervice 
to remark it. 



VOYAGE of the ARGONAUTS.— CONQUEST 
of the GOLDEN FLEECE. — HISTORY 
of JASON and MEDEA. 

There is no event recorded in the hiftory 
bf Greece more famous or more abounding in fie- 
lion* than the eonqueft of the Golden Fleece, 
There are few authors who do not mention it, and 
though many of their works are loft, there ftill 
remain three poems upon this expedition - } that 
of Onomaciitus, compofed about five hundred 
years before the Chriftian sera; that of Apollonius 
the Rhodian, who lived in the time of the Ptole- 
mies ; and that of Valerius Flaccus, who wrote 
tinder Vefpafian. To form a juft idea of this 
voyage* we muft regard it as a military expedition* 
undertaken by the moft illuftrious warriors of 
Greece, to recover the treafures which Phryxus 
had carried to Colchis, and at the fame time to 
e c 3 eftablifli 



390 VOYAGE OF THE ARGONAUTS. 

eftablim a maritime commerce,, and form new fet- 
dements or colonies, in the countries they mould 
difcover. To infure fuccefs, feveral fhips and 
many people were necellary; it is evident they 
were provided with both, fince the companions of 
Caftdr and Pollux founded the colonies of the 
Tyndarides and the Heniochians. 

The fhip Argo alone is celebrated, but it ap- 
pears that this was the Admiral's fhip, on board 
of which were the chiefs of the expedition. As 
all Greece took part in this enterprize, and as we 
meet with it continually in fabulous hiftory, wc 
Hi all give the moft efiential particulars concerning 
its origin. 

Athamas, fon of iEolus, and great grandfon of 
Deucalion, was king of Thebes. His firft wife 
was Ino, daughter of Cadmus, whom he divorced 
fome time after to efpoufe Nephele ; by whom he 
had Phryxus and Helle. Nephele having fbown 
iymptoms of a derangement of mind, Athamas 
became reconciled to Ino, who mortally detefted 
the, children of her rival, by right of feniority heirs 
to the crown. The weak and inconftant Athamas 
fuffered himfelf to be perfuaded by Ino, that 
Nephele had poifoned the grain, and occafioned 
the famine which had depopulated Thebes. This 
bafe calumny me caufed to be confirmed by the 
prieils, who declared in the name of the oracle 
that the fcourge could only be removed by facri- 

ficing 



VOYAGE OF THE ARGONAUTS. 39 1 

ficing the two children of Nephele. Phryxus, 
informed by one of the priefts of the barbarous 
project of Ino, fecretly equipped a veffel, found 
means to carry off part of his father's treafures, 
and, accompanied by his fitter Helle, embarked to 
feek an afylum with his relation, iEetes, king of 
Colchis. During the voyage, the young Helle 
fell from the veffel into the fea, and there perifhed. 
This circumftance occafioned that part of the fea 
to be ever after called the Hellefpont. 

Such is the origin of the fable invented by the 
poets of the ram with the golden fleece. 

They fay, that Phryxus and Helle mounted 
this ram to efcape from their cruel ftep-mother, 
and that Helle, terrified by the rolling of the waves, 
fell from its back and was drowned. The veffel 
was expreffed by a ram, becaufe it carried the 
reprefentation of that animal on its prow. They 
even wifhed to affign it a genealogy. Hiftory 
goes on to inform us, that Phryxus arrived hap- 
pily at Colchis, where he interred his fifter Helle, 
and confecrated the prow of his veffel to Jupiter 
Phryxus, or the Prefer ver. 

Phryxus while at Colchis efpoufed Chalciope, 
daughter of ./Eetes. The firft years of their mar- 
riage palTed away very happily - 3 they were blefh 
with four children j but iEetes, envious of the riches 
of his fon in law, caufed him to be affaffinated, and 
Chalciope, topreferve her children from the barba- 
c c 4 rous 



392 VOYAGE OF THE ARGONAUTS* 

rous and criminal avarice of her father, fecretly 
provided a vefTel and fent them into Greece, hoping 
as fhe had heard of the death of Ino, that Atharnas 
would remember his fon, and receive favourably 
his grand-children. A ftorm, in which their vefTel 
was wrecked, threw the children upon an ifland, 
where they remained till the arrival of Jafon, who 
conducted them back to their mother ; and Chal- 
ciope out of gratitude for this fervice, favoured 
the paffion which Jafon had conceived for her filler 
Medea. At this time Pelias, a relation of Atharnas, 
reigned over part of ThefTaly; he had ufurped the 
crown which by right belonged to iEfon, and by a 
feries of tyrannical actions had rendered himfelf 
odious to his people. 

Being informed that Alcymede, wife of Mfon, 
was juft delivered of a fon, he endeavoured by 
every method to deftroy him, as the oracle had 
foretold that he ihould be dethroned by a prince 
of the race of the JE elides. iEfon and Alcymede 
being apprifed of the black deiigns of Pelias, 
caufed it to be reported that the young Diomedes 
(the original name of Jafon) was dangeroufly ill, 
and foon after, that he was dead; they even per- 
formed the ceremony of his funeral. Having thus 
eluded Pelias, Alcymede carried her fon upon 
mount Pelion, and delivered him into the hands 
of Chiron, the wife ft and molt enlightened man of 
his time. It was under this Ikiiful preceptor that 

Jafoa 



VOYAGE OF THE ARGONAUTS. 393 

Jafon acquired that knowledge which afterwards 
rendered him fo illuftrious. 

Having attained the age of twenty-one, this 
young prince went to confult the oracle, by which 
he was ordered to clothe himfelf after the manner 
of the Magnefians, to add the fkin of a leopard, 
like that worn by Chiron, to provide himfelf with 
two fpears, and thus equipped to prefent himfelf 
at the court of lolchos. Jafon punctually obeyed 
the injunctions of the oracle, but in going from 
mount Pelion to the city, it was neceflary to crofs 
the river Anaurus, which at that time had over- 
flowed its banks. Juno, fays the fable, difguifed 
as an old woman, offered to tranfport him to the 
oppofite fide, but in the pafiage this young prince 
loft one of his fhoes s and Pelias had been warned 
by the oracle to beware of the man who mould 
appear before him with but one fhoe. Jafon 
however arrived at lolchos. His beauty, youth, 
and even the fmgularity of his diftrefs, attract- 
ing every eye, Pelias himfelf wilhed to receive 
this ftranger; but perceiving his naked foot, 
he no longer doubted that this was the man 
pointed out by the oracle. He adopted the refo-^ 
lution however to diflemble, and begged the 
Itranger to inform him of his name. Jafon., with 
a noble aiTurance, told him that he was fon of iEfon $ 
related the manner in which he had been brought 
up in the care of the centaur, Chiron and con- 
cluded 



394 VOYAGE OF THE ARGONAUTS. 

eluded by addreffing himfelf to the chiefs of the 
affembly, from whom he learned the refidence of 
his father, was conducted to him and acknow- 
ledged, while the tyrant who had remarked the 
intereft which the prefence of this young prince 
infpired in his behalf, dared make no attempt againit 
him. 

Pheres, who reigned over part of Thefialy, 
hearing of the arrival of his nephew, came to Iolchos, 
accompanied by his fon Admetus, and fent to fetch 
his two other fons, Neleus and Amithaon, who 
were eftablilhed in Meffina. When thefe princes 
were met together, during five days they celebrated 
feafts on the fixth, Jafon, with his father and his 
uncles, concerted meafures to drive the ufurper 
from the throne. Accompanied by his family he 
went to the palace of the king, and demanded the 
crown which by right belonged to him, telling 
Pelias he might keep poiTeffion of the riches, his 
own ambition being only glory. Pelias, detefted 
by his people, and aftonifhed at language fo bold* 
dared not refufe Jafon, whofe courage and noble 
countenance engaged the hearts of ail who beheld 
him ; perceiving likewife the eagernefs of this 
young prince to fignaiize himfelf, he told him, 
that the unhappy Phryxus, their relation, and like 
them defcended from 7£olus, had been maflfacred 
at Colchis, that he had appeared to him in a dream, 
defiring him to revenge his murder, and fave his 
2 children^ 



VOYAGE OF THE ARGONAUTS. ^95 

children, who were perpetually expofed to the 
cruelty of an avaricious and barbarous tyrant. 
His age, he added, would not permit him to under- 
take this voyage, but he befbught Jafon to appeafe 
the manes of Phryxus, promifing on his return to 
refign to him the crown. He then related. how 
Phryxus, when he fled from Thebes, had carried 
with him a fleece of moft ineftimable value, by 
recovering which he would gain immortal glory 
and immenfe riches : he did not conceal from him 
the dangers he would have to encounter ; the crafty 
old man knew very well that thefe would only 
flimulate the courage of this young hero. His- 
harangue had the defired erFecr Jafon immediately 
accepted the propofal, and to give greater luftre 
to the expedition, he invited all the princes of 
Greece to accompany him. Whilft thefe were 
flocking to the ftandard of Jafon in Theflaly, a 
veflel was conftrucled proper for fo long a voyage, 
and this was the celebrated fhip, Argo, concerning 
which fo many wonders are related. 

The origin of this name is differently explained. 
Some fay, that the plan of it was drawn by Argus, 
and that from him it took its name. Others derive 
it from the Greek word argos, fwift, light; others 
again imagine, that it was built at Argos; and 
laflly, fome fuppofe it to come from the word 
argivos, becaufe it was employed to carry the 
Greeks, 

In 



396 voya6e of the argonauts. 

In the fame marine^ there are different opinions 
concerning the quality of the wood, which was 
made ufe of in conftructing it but it is lufficient 
for us to remark, that the mail was formed of a 
tree taken from the foreft of Oodona, which gave 
rife to the fable that it rendered oracles; 

The fhape of this veffel was long* like that of 
a galley. Trading veffels were generally of a 
round form. The number of thofe who embarked 
on this expedition is computed at fifty-twoi 

It was firft propofed to confer the honour of 
the command upon Hercules, but he himfelf 
pointed out Jafon as their chief, as he was . the 
original caufe of the expedition. Tiphys, a fkil- 
ful mariner, who, for that reafonj was fuppofed to 
be the fon of Neptune, they chofe for their pilots 
Lynceus, by the quicknefs of his fight, difcovered 
the fhoals ; and Orpheus, by the harmony of his 
voice and lyre, difpelled the wearinefs of fo long 
a voyage. We fhall not enter into a particular 
account of all the Argonauts, but content our- 
felves with obferving, that in this expedition were 
engaged the mofl diftinguimed perfons of Greece, 
either for their birth or valour. The art of navi- 
gation was at that time fo little underitood^ that 
they feldom ventured to lofe fight of land. The 
centaur, Chiron, was confulted upon the courfe 
they were to purfue \ they defired him to compoft 
a new almanack and reform the old one* which he 

did$ 



VOYAGE OF THE ARGONAUTS. 397 

did, and brought it jufl: as they had finiflied their 
•fecrifices. He gave them his advice, and with 
his laft farewell mingled his prayers for the fuccefs 
of his pupil, Jafon, whom he tenderly loved. We 
learn from hiftory that Chiron was then entrufted 
with the education of Achilles ; a. certain proof 
that the expedition of the Argonauts took place a 
fhort time before the Trojan war, of whic * Achilles 
was the moil illuftrious hero. 

The Argonauts had at firft a profperous voyage^ 
but a ftorm foon obliged them to caft anchor at 
the ifland of Lemnos. The women of that ifland 
having, according to the poets, failed in their re- 
fpecc. towards Venus $ that goddefs, topunifh them f 
infpired their hufbands with fuch averfion, that 
they abandoned them for the flaves of Thrace. 
Enraged at fuch contempt, they availed themfelves 
of the abfence of the greater part of their hufbands 
to maffacre thofe which remained. Hypfipyle 
alone fpared her father, Thoas, king of the ifland. 
This circumflance is mentioned by all the ancient 
writers. It was at this period the Argonauts 
arrived. The Lemnian women thinking they were 
their hufbands, prepared to attack them, but learn- 
ing that they were the Argonauts, they gave them a 
favourable reception. From Lemnos they fet fail 
for Samothracia, to fulfil a vow which Orpheus 
had made during the temp eft. They firft pro- 
ceeded to the country of the Tyrrhenians, who 
3 oppofing 



398 VOYAGE OF THE ARGONAUTS. 

oppofing them, a bloody battle enfued, in which 
all the heroes of the expedition were wounded, 
with the exception of Glaucus, who difappeared, 
and gave rife to the fable already mentioned, that 
he was received among the number of the marine 
deities. From thence the Argonauts entered the 
Hellefpont, fleered towards Afia, and landed a little 
above Troas. It was here Hercules, Hylas and Te- 
lamon abandoned them. The departure of Her- 
cules gave them no concern, as he himfelf con- 
fumed the greater part of their provifions. 

From thence they continued their courfe to 
Cyzicus, a townfituated at the foot of Mount Dyn- 
dimus, at that time governed by a king of the 
name of Cyzicus. Here they met with giants 
having fix legs and fix arms (that is to fay vef- 
fels and galleys). Cyzicus received them hofpita- 
bly, and furniflied them with provifions. They 
fet fail from the town, but in the night, meeting 
with contrary wind, were forced to return ; and 
Cyzicus, who thought them already at a great 
diftance, imagining it to be the Pelafgi, his natural 
enemies, attempted to oppofe them, and was 
killed by Jafon. This prince, to expiate his in- 
voluntary crime, bellowed on Cyzicus a magnifi- 
cent funeral, he then offered a folemn facrifice to 
the mother of the gods, and built her a temple 
upon Mount Dyndimus. Clyte, wife of Cyzicus, 
unable to furvive the lofs of her hufoand, died 

fhortly 



VOYAGE OF THE ARGONAUTS, 399 

fhortly after of grief and regret. From Cyzicus 
they proceeded to Bebrycia, (the original name of 
Bithynia) at that time governed by Amycus. This 
pfiace excelled in the combat of the ceftus. He 
gave a challenge to Pollux., who accepted it ; but 
Amycus having treacheroufly waylaid them, was flain 
by Pollux and his companions. Quitting this 
place, they v/ere carried by a gale of wind upon 
the coaft of Thrace, near the dominions of Phi- 
neus. This prince, old and blind, was inceflantly 
tormented by the Harpies. 

Here fiction continually intermixes itfelf with 
hiftory, but it will not be difficult to diltinguifh 
them from each other. Phineus had two fons by 
a former wife. Idea, daughter of Dardanus, his 
fecond wife, invented the blacked calumnies 
againft thefe children, and at lafl perfuaded the weak 
and credulous Phineus, that he could not befecure 
from the dangers with which they threatened him 
but by putting out their eyes, and this piece of 
barbarity was actually put in execution. Boreas, 
their uncle, who reigned over part of Thrace, be- 
ing informed of this cruelty, haftened to revenge 
his nephews, defeated Phineus, and in like man- 
ner deprived him of fight. It was fubfequent to 
thefe events that the Argonauts arrived ; Phi- 
neus received them favourably, and offered 
to conduct them over the Cyanean rocks 
which were extremely dangerous. In gratitude 



400 VOYAGE OF THE ARGONAUTS. 

for his reception, the Argonauts engaged Calais 
and Zethes, fons of Boreas, who had wings (that 
is verTels with fails) to go in purfuit of the 
Harpies, (by which are meant corfairs, who 
laid wafte the country). Thefe they purfued to 
the ides called Strophades, where they loft fight 
of them. 

It was in acknowledgment for this kindnefs that 
Phineus gave them pilots to conduct them acrofs 
the Cyanean rocks, which were called Sympleg- 
ades, becaufe they feemed to clam againft each 
other. The Argonauts, terrified at the fight of 
this ftrait, let fly a dove, which palled it happily, 
and ferved them as a guide. This dove, which the 
ftory mentions, was the light vefTel which Phineus 
A gave them, to point out the track they were to 
follow. 

This experiment of the Argonauts firft made 
known the above paffage, which the Greeks after- 
wards made ufe of, to eftablifh their commerce 
along the coaft of the Euxine fea. Having paffed 
this ftrait, they turned towards Afia, and landed 
in the country of the Mariandynians, by whofe 
king, Lycus, they w T ere well received. Here their 
pilot, Tiphys, died, and was fucceeded in his 
employment by Ancetis. Compelled by ftrefs of 
weather to land in the ifle of Arecia, they there 
found the children of Phryxus, whom they took 
xvirh them to Colchis but on quitting this ifland, 

they 



ARRIVAL OF THE ARGONAUTS. 4OI 

they had a fevere conteft to maintain againfb its 
inhabitants. The fable defcribes this combat by 
faying, that they found birds, who by difcharg- 
ing their quills did great execution. This was 
the manner in which they reprefent the arrows 
made ufe of by the inhabitants during this com- 
bat. At laft, afcer many difficulties, they reached 
the port of iEa, capital of Colchis, the theatre of 
their grand adventures, 

ARRIVAL of the ARGONAUTS in COLCHIS. 

etes learning the arrival of Jafon, and 
the reafon of his coming, thought only how he 
might deftroy him, or at leaft engage him to re- 
linquilh his defign of demanding a reftitution of 
the treafures of Phryxus. He prefcribed to him 
conditions which it feemed impoflible to be com- 
plied with. 

Before we relate thefe conditions, and the whole 
of that fabulous narration, it is necefTary to ob- 
ferve, that it was written in the Phoenician lan- 
guage, which was brought into Greece by Cadmus. 

This language had a vail number of words of 
an ambiguous meaning, or of a fignification en- 
tirely unknown ; it is not at all furprifing then, 
that the poets fliould have intermixed fo many 
fictions and wonders with the truths of hiftory. 

D s> This 



40a ARRIVAL OF THE ARGONAUTS* 

This celebrated conqueft produced feveral po- 
ems and tragedies, in which the events were rhifc 
reprefented. It is even with regret we find 
that> the famous tragedian Euripides received a 
bribe from the Corinthians to blacken the memo- 
ry of Medea. Thefe particulars we mail give .in 
the hiftory of that princefs, but at prefent purfue 
the disfigured account, which it is abfolutely ne- 
ceiTary to be acquainted with. 

Apollonius of Rhodes, and Onomacritus relate, 
that Jafon being equally beloved by Juno and Mi- 
nerva, thofe goddeiTes agreed to infpire Medea 
with a paifion for him, as by her knowledge of 
the art of magic me could protect him from all 
dangers. Medea, already prejudiced in his favour 
by her fifter Calciope, met him in the temple of 
Hecate, where both were come to implore the 
fervices of that goddefs* Jafon, charmed at 
the fight of Medea, and acquainted with her 
power, demanded her afiiftance, which fhe pro- 
mifed, on condition of receiving his hand. After 
exchanging vows, they feparated, and Medea 
fought by every method in her power to fave her 
hufband. To effect the conqueft of the Golden 
Fleece it was neceffary firft. to reduce to the yoke 
"two bulls (a prefent from 1 Vulcan) having horns 
and feet of brafs, and torrents of fire ifiuing from 
their noftrils. When this was accomplifhed, they 
we're to be fattened to a plough of Adamant, and 

employed 



ARRIVAL OF THE ARGONAUTS. 403 

employed in turning up four acres of ground 
confecrated to the god Mars, which had never be- 
fore been cultivated. This labour done, it, was 
ordered to fow this ground with the teetfr of 
a dragon, from whence were immediately, to fpring 
armed men, whom Jafon was obliged entirely to 
exterminate ; after having furmounted thefe diffi- 
culties, the dragon that defended the Golden 
Fleece remained ftill to be conquered and de- 
ftroyed. One day only was allowed for the per- 
formance of fuch prodigious undertakings. Jafon, 
relying on his courage, and fecure of the arTift- 
ance of Medea, boldly accepted the conditions. 
The field of Mars was opened, the king of Col- 
chis ranging himfelf on one fide, and the Argo- 
nauts on the other. Immediately the two bulls 
rufned into the place of action, but Jafon having 
previoufly received from Medea cakes made 
of honey and flour, the animals on receiving 
thefe became difarmed of their rage, and volunta- 
rily prefented their necks to the yoke. The field 
was ploughed, the dragon's teeth were fown> and 
the armed men appeared, when Jafon throwing a 
ftone into the midftof them, in an inftant they were 
feized with fuch fury, that they attacked and flew 
each other. Jafon then marched towards the 
dragon which guarded the Golden Fleece ; this he 
lulled afleep with a foporiferous potion, likewife 
prepared by Medea, and thus atchieved the con- 

© d 2 queft 



404 ARRIVAL OF THE ARGONAUTS* 

queft of the famous Golden Fleece. The fame 
day on which he gained thefe victories, Jafon, 
thinking only how he might efcape from JEetes, 
whofe treachery he feared, returned to his veffel, 
was there joined by Medea, and, fetting fail, they were 
foon at a diftance from the coaft of Colchis. This 
account is in appearance a mere fiction ; however 
the celebrated Bochart, who knew perfectly the 
genius of the Eaftern languages, and their real fig- 
nification, finds in the Phoenician words the expla- 
nation of thefe fables. After having made a com- 
parifon with thefe words, he fucceeds in proving, 
that the Argonauts were engaged in a bloody bat- 
tle, from which they came off victorious. The 
opinions concerning this Golden Fleece are vari- 
ous. Some authors think, that in Colchis were ri- 
vulets, whofe fands were intermixed with particles 
of gold, that to collect thefe they extended at the 
bottom of the water fheep fkins with the wool 
on, and that by this means iEetes amafTed great 
riches. Alchemifts, and thofe who pretend to 
make gold, fuppofe, that this fleece was a book, 
which contained the fecret of tranfmuting all me- 
tals into gold s but this opinion deferves not the 
leaft attention. 



RETURN 



BJETURN OF THE ARGONAUTS • 



RETURN OF THE ARGONAUTS. 

Jason having happily terminated his ex- 
pedition, now thought only of quitting Colchis ; 
availing himfelf of the darknefs of the night, he 
fet fail, accompanied by Medea, carrying with 
him the treafures of iEetes, who quickly fitted out 
a fleet, and fent his fon Abfyrtus in purfuit of 
them. Onomacritus in his poem relates that Jafon 
and Medea feeing no poflibility of efcaping, invited 
Abfyrtus to go on more, under pretence of an 
accommodation, but no fooner was he landed than 
they murdered him, and ftrewed his limbs in dif- 
ferent places, in order to detain his foldiers, who 
they imagined would ftay to collect and bury them. 

This extract from the poem of Onomacritus "is 
entirely contradicted by hiftory, which even par- 
ticularifes the different countries through which 
Abfyrtus pafTed in fearch of the fhip Argo. 

The ancient poets have given accounts of the 
return of Jafon ; but the Argonauts wherever they 
flopped having left monuments of their pafTage, 
the reality of their return could never be called in 
doubt by hiftorians, and we fhall give what they 
relate upon this fubjecl. Their accounts will 
be found frequently much interlarded with fiction. 

The Argonauts coafted along the eaftern Ihore 

B D 3 Of 



406 RETURN Of THE ARGONAUTS. - 

of Afia, croflfed the Cimmerian Bofphorus and 
the Palus Mseotis, and entered the northern ocean. 
Steering afterwards to the left, they reached the 
ifland of Peucefla, which was known to the pilot 
Anceus. Hence they proceeded to the ifle of 
Circe, which princefs, according to Onomacri- 
tus, refufed to purify Jafon from the murder of 
Abfyrtus. Purfuing their route, hiftorians fay they 
arrived at the pillars of Hercules, whence they re- 
entered the Mediterranean, and near Sicily paflfed the 
flrait of Scylia and Charybdis, where they would 
have perifhed had it not been for the afiiftance of 
Thetis. The Syrens had nearly proved fatal to 
them, when they were faved by Orpheus; and 
arriving in the country of the Phoenicians, here met 
the fleet of Abfyrtus, the commander of which 
demanded the reftitution of Medea. It was agreed 
on both fides that, in cafe fhe was not his wife, 
Jafon fhould reftore her. The wife of Alcinous 
being chofen arbitrefs, wifhed to favour Jafon, 
and caufing his nuptials with Medea to be cele- 
brated during the night, declared the following 
day to the fleet of JEctes that none had any claim 
to Medea, lawful wife of Jafon. The Argonauts 
were then at liberty to depart, and quitting the 
country of the Phoenicians experienced a heavy 
ftorm, which drove them upon the quickfands of 
Africa, where they found themfelves in the mod 
imminent danger. At laft they arrived at Cape 
- ! Malea, 



RETURN OF THE ARGONAUTS. 407 

Maiea, where Jafon, according to the advice of 
Circe, made atonement for his crime. . Every ob- 
ject of their voyage being accomplished, they 
arrived on the coaft of ThefTaly, whence they 
had originally departed. Pelias, fays Pau- 
fanias, having died during their abfence, his fon 
Acaftus invited his fellow-adventurers to celebrate, 
before they feparated, funeral games in honour of 
his father, at which Jafon and Medea affifted. 
This fable, mentioned by Paufanias, and confirmed 
by feveral circumftances which he quotes, proves 
clearly that Medea was by no means concerned in 
the death of Pelias ; on the contrary, the fame au- 
thor relates, that his brother iEfon committed 
that crime, by compelling him to drink the blood 
of a bull. The Argonauts, before their feparation, 
made a league for their mutual defence, and to 
give it the more folemnity, Hercules affembled 
them in the plains of Elis to celebrate the Olympic 
Games, which had been for fome time interrupted, 
and were again lb after his death. 

Jafon confecrated the fhip Argo in the ifthmus 
of Corinth, and by the poets it was afterwards 
placed among the conftellations. This celebrated 
expedition took place about thirty years before the 
Trojan war. 

Ancient hiftorians allure us, that Abfyrtus loft 
his life in a naval combat, which took place on 
the.Euxine fea when the fleet of TEczts overtook 

d d 4' the 



40B ADVENTURES OF MEDEA AND JASON. 

the Argonauts, Herodotus fays, that both this 
prince and his fon fell in this engagement, which 
left the Argonauts at liberty to purfue their voy- 
age. When driven by a tempeft upon the coalt 
of Lybia, a prince of that country named Eurypilus 
gave them great affiftance, and provided them with 
guides to conduct them through the difficult paflage 
of the Syrtes. The fable paints this hofpitable prince 
under the form of a Triton. Jafon, in acknow- 
ledgment for his fervices, prefented him with a 
golden tripod, which was fuppofed to have the vir- 
tue of giving oracles, 

CONTINUATION OF THE ADVENTURES OF 
MEDEA AND JASON. 

The hiftory of Jafon after his return from 
Colchis, and that of Medea, are fo differently 
related,, that it is extremely difficult to diftinguifn 
the truth. Some hiftorians a and particularly the 
poets, defcribe her as the murderefs of her brother. 
They fay fhe caufed Pelias to be mafiacred by his 
own daughters, giving them the dreadful counfel 
to cut him in pieces, and put his limbs into a caul- 
dron of boiling water, alluring them that herbs 
which fhe pointed out to them would reftore 
him to youth and vigour. The fame poets add, 
that me caufed Glaucis her rival, daughter of 
Creon, to perifh miferably, and that her furious 

jealoufy 



ADVENTURES OF MEDEA AND JASON. 409 

jealoufy even led her to facrifice the two children 
which me had by Jafon. Other authors fpeak of 
her in the higheft ftrain of eulogium, they affert 
that flie was a lover of virtue, and only reproach 
her with having been too much guided by her 
paffion for Jafon, who bafely abandoned her, not- 
withftanding the two pledges of affection fhe had 
brought him. They even reprefent her as em- 
ploying all the knowledge me derived from her 
mother Hecate, in relieving and healing thole 
who applied to her. In ihort, they relate that this 
unhappy perlecuted princefs, having in vain re- 
minded Jafon of his oaths and promifes, was 
obliged to wander from court to court in fearch 
of an afylurm 

In reading thofe poets who have accufed her of fo 
many crimes, we may perceive that they are obliged 
to own (he was born virtuous, and had been hurried 
on to the commiffion of vice by a fort of fatality, 
or by the impulfe of the offended gods, particularly 
Venus, who relentlefsly purfued the race of Apollo 
for having difcovered her attachment to Mars. 
Thefe poetical accounts compared with hiftory, 
clearly fhow, that the ancient tragic writers, to give 
greater effect to their pieces, have entirely disfi- 
gured the hiftory of that princefs, in order the 
better to infpire terror and companion. Some 
hiftorians giving credit to facts which were mifre- 
prefented; have trajifmitted to us the hiftory of 

Medea 



410 ADVENTURES OF MEDEA AND JASON". 

Medea under the moft odious colours and in this 
they have been imitated by our modern tragic 
poets. "We mall mention fome of the reafons 
which induce us to believe that Medea was not 
fo criminal as fhe has been reprefented. We have 
already fhown that Abfyrtus perimed in a naval 
combat, long after he was faid by the poets to have 
been murdered by Medea and Jafon, therefore of 
this crime me can never be accufed. The ftory 
of her having advifed the daughters of Peiias to 
cut their father in pieces is void of any foundation 
in truth. This prince expired under the hands of 
his brother iEfon, who, as we have faid, compelled 
him to fwallow bullock's blood. When the Argo- 
nauts returned he v/as already dead, and we have feen 
that thofe heroes, at the intreaty of Acaftus, cele- 
brated his funeral honours with the greater!: pomp ; 
Jafon and Medea being prefent, without the lean: 
furprife being exprefTed, or accufation preferred 
on the part of that prince who was fon to Peiias. 
Kiftory acquaints us with the origin of this fable ; 
it relates, that, after the death of Peiias and iEfon, 
Acaftus and Jafon difputed the crown j the party 
of Acaftus was triumphant; Jafon and Medea were 
obliged to fly, and embarking on board a vefTel 
called the Dragon, arrived at Corinth, then governed 
by Creon, who dared not refufe them an afylum, 
becaufe. Medea. had pretenfions to that crown. 
Thefe pretenfions appear the more certain, as 
1 Eu melius 



ADVENTURES OF MEDEA AND JASON. $11 

Eumelius, a grave hiftorian and a native of Corinth, 
affures us that Medea divided that kingdom with 
Creon. Diodorus Siculus fays, that the Corin- 
thians themfelves invited Medea to quit Iolchos, 
and come to take pofTeffion of a throne which be- 
longed to her by right. He adds, that Medea and 
Jafon lived ten years in that city in the greaterl 
harmony, during which they had two children ; it 
was then that Jafon, abandoning himfelf to his 
infidelity, forgot the obligations which he had to 
Medea. He violated the facred laws of marriage, 
at that time much refpected, efpoufed Glaucis, 
daughter of king Creon, and divorced Medea. 
Such is the hiftory which the poets have fo dif- 
figured in their fables, poems and tragedies. 
Medea, according to their accounts, fent her rival 
an empoifoned robe (like the veil of NeiTus) which 
terminated her exiftence with the molt excruciating 
torments. She fet fire to the palace of Creon, 
who perimed in the flames, and thinking herfelf 
not yet fufficiently revenged, with her own hands 
fhe tore in pieces her two fons, Pheres and Memer- 
cus. Terrified at having committed fo many 
crimes, and dreading the vengeance of Jafon, me 
had recourfe to her knowledge of magic, mounted a 
chariot drawn by two dragons, and borne through 
the air came to Hercules, whofe affiftance fhe 
implored in revenging her. Being repulfed by that 
hero with indignation, and become the horror and 

detefta- 

\ 



412 ADVENTURES OF MEDEA AND JASON. 

deteftation of mankind, fhe came to Athens in 
fearch of an afylum. There is no mention in 
hiftory of the horrible event fo well known under 
the name of Medea's farewell. A well authenti- 
cated tradition arTerted, that either to revenge 
the death of Creon, of which Medea was fufpected, 
or to avoid the war which the pretenfions the 
children of this princefs had to the crown might 
have excited, the Corinthians themfelves maffacred 
thefe two young princes. They had taken refuge 
in the temple of Juno, but in vain ; the people 
dragged them from this facred afylum, and tore 
them in pieces. Not long after, being vifited by 
a peftilence, the Corinthians went to confult the 
oracle, from which they learned, that their cala- 
mities would not ceafe till they had expiated their 
horrid facrilege. 

It was on this occafion they inftituted a feftival 
which fubfifted long after. Paufanias relates, that 
they offered facrifices in honour of the children of 
Medea, and confecrated a ftatue to them, which 
reprefented fear. This ftatue was ftill to be feen 
in his time. In memory of this crime, and as an 
atonement for it, the Corinthians cut the hair of 
their children, and made them wear mourning till 
a certain age. 

Thefe feafts, facrifices, cuftoms, and this ftatue, 
are monuments much more worthy of credit, than 
the inventions of the poets. 

The 



ADVENTURES OF MEDEA AND JASON. 413 

The brilliant genius of Euripides could not in- 
validate the records and writings of his time, and 
we find in feveral ancient authors, that the Corin- 
thians, hearing Euripides had chofen Medea for the 
fubjecT: of one of his tragedies, made him ari offer 
(which he accepted) of five talents, on condition 
that he would employ all his art to exculpate them 
from a crime which rendered the memory of their 
fathers odious and defpicable throughout all 
Greece. Some time after, another flory was pro- 
pagated to brand with infamy the memory of Me- 
dea. It is in Ovid we meet with it. He fays, Me- 
dea, after having mafTacred the children of Jafon^ 
took refuge at Athens, and gained fuch influence 
over iEgeus, that me perfuaded him to marry her. 
During thefe tranfadtions, continues this author, 
Thefeus, for the firft time, prefented himfelf before 
iEgeus, bringing with him the fword which was to 
be the proof of his defcent. Medea, from whom 
nothing was concealed, endeavoured to perfuadc 
iEgeus to poifon this young prince at a banquet. 
The fatal cup was prepared ; but Thefeus having 
made himfelf known, as we have already faid, Me- 
dea, afhamed of having failed in this attempt,, 
efcaped in the fame chariot which me had made 
ufe of to avoid the vengeance of Jafon. This 
fiction falls of itfelf, when we recollect that JEgcm 
threw himfelf into the fea, which bears his name, 
on feeing the vefTel which had carried Thefeus to 
3 the 



414 ADVENTURES OF MEDEA AND JASON. 

the ifle of Crete, in his expedition againft the Mino- 
taur, return without hoifting the appointed fignal. 
This event which happened while Thefeus was 
very young, took place long before the time when 
Jafon abandoned Medea for the daughter of Creon, 
and obliged her to take refuge at Athens. Befides, 
Thefeus was the companion of the Argonauts. It 
is furprifing that fo flagrant a contradiction was not 
fufficient to check the inventive fancy of the poets. 

After the arrival of Medea at Athens, no further 
mention is made of her. A few authors, however, fay 
that lhe croffed the fea, to procure a reconciliation 
with jafon, that they returned to Colchis, where 
they reinftated JEcics on the throne, from which he 
had been driven by a faction j they add, that Jafon 
acquired fuch glory by his conquefls in Lower 
Alia, that he was honoured there as a divinity, 
and that after his death, Medus, his fon, built the 
city of Medea, in honour of his mother, and that it 
was from him the Medes derived their name. 

But all the traditions of the Greeks agree in 
faying, that Jafon died in ThelTaly. 

They a flu re us, that after his reparation from 
Medea, he led a wandering life, and that one day 
repofing himfelf on the fea more, under the made 
of the fhip Argo, a beam fell from it, and crufhed 
him to death. This laft account appears moft 
credible. 



HISTORY 



HISTORY OF CASTOR. AND POLLUX. 415 



HISTORY OF CASTOR AND POLLUX. 

Castor and Pollux, for the many illuft> 
rlous actions they performed, were dignified with 
the appellation of the fons of Jupiter. Their filters 
were Helen and Clytemneftra. 

The fable fays, that Jupiter having metamor- 
phofed himfelf into a fwan, Venus afiumed the 
form of an eagle and purfued him: he took refuge 
with Leda, and fome time after it was pretended, 
that Caftor and Clytemneftra, Pollux and He- 
len, had proceeded from two eggs. Pollux and 
Helen were regarded as the defcendants of Jupi- 
ter, Caftor and Clytemneftra were fuppofed the 
children of Tyndarus. To explain this fable we 
muft remark, that in thofe times palaces contained 
chambers of an oval form, nearly refembling an 
egg this, perhaps, was fufficient to occafion the 
fable we have juft related. 

Thefe princes and princeftes were born on the 
banks of the river Eurotas, in Laconia, near Sparta. 
On this river were always feen a number of fwans, 
which gave the poets an idea of introducing that 
bird into their fable. The beauty of Leda, her 
fair complexion, and fine turned neck, caufed her 
to be compared to a fwan, and thefe circunv 
flances, with the embeilifhments of the poets, 
produced the fable of Jupiter and Leda * How- 
ever 



416 HISTORY OF CASTOR AND POLLUX. 

ever this may be, Caftor and Pollux were for their 
heroic valour looked upon as Tons of Jupiter, and 
went by the name of Diofcures, a name 
under which they afterwards received divine 
honours. It was in the expedition to Colchis, that 
thefe tv/o heroes mod diftinguifhed themfelves. 
During a tempeft, in which the Argo had nearly 
perifhed, they, with Orpheus, made a vow to ini- 
tiate themfelves into the myfteries of Samothracia. 
The divinities of this country were called Cabiris, 
and pafTed for the fons of the Egyptian Vulcan, 
adored in Egypt as the molt powerful and chief of 
the gods. 

Nothing was more celebrated, or more facred, 
than thefe myfteries of Samothracia. Particularly 
they were fuppofed to have the power of rendering 
the gods propitious in long voyages. 

Pollux, while going on this expedition, killed 
the famous Amycus, who challenged the whole 
world to fight with the Ceftus. This victory, and 
that which he obtained at the Olympic Games, 
when celebrated at Elis, by the defire of Her- 
cules, caufed him to be regarded as the patron 
of wreftlers. At thefe fame games, Caftor, his 
brother, diftinguifhed himfelf in the race, and 
in the art of breaking horfes. 

After the voyage to Colchis thefe two heroes 
became very formidable by fea, and cleared the 
Archipelago of the corfairs which infefted it. 

For 



■HISTORY OF CASTOR AND POLLUX. 417 

For this fervice, they were after their death ranked 
among the gods favourable to mariners. This ho- 
nour was thought due to them, becaufe, during a 
florm which endangered the fhip Argo, fires were 
feen to play round the heads of the Tyndarides, 
and the inflant after the florm ceafed. From that 
time> thofe fires which 'frequently appear on the 
furface of the ocean were called the fires of Caflor 
and Pollux. When two were feen at the fame 
time, it announced the return of calm, when only 
one, it was the prefage of a dreadful florm. This 
fpecies of fire is frequently feen by failors, and is 
a fpecies of ignis fatuns. 

In revenge for an infult offered to their fifler, 
thefe two heroes took the city of Aphidnas, but 
contented themfelves with puniihing thofe who 
had committed the offence. The Athenians, 
charmed with this moderation, inflituted feflivals to 
their honour under the name of Anactce, which is 
derived from a greek word fignifying king. Not 
long after they gave occafion to call their prudence 
and moderation in queflion. Being invited as re- 
lations to the nuptials of Idas and Lynceus, they 
carried off Phcebe and Hilara, daughters of Leu- 
cippus. Idas, and Lynceus, the intended hufbands 
of thefe two ladies, purfued the ravifhers. Lyn- 
ceus was firfl killed by Caflor, who in his turn 
fell by the hands of Idas. Pollux arrived too late 
to fave his brother, but he revenged his death 

E e with 



418 HISTORY OF CASTOR AND POLLUX. 

with that of Idas. Pollux, fays the fable, in his 
quality of fon to Jupiter, was immortal, but he 
begged his father either to fufrer him to die, or 
permit him to mare his immortality with his brother 
Caftor, Jupiter granted his requeft. They fuc- 
ceeded each other alternately upon earth, and in 
the manlions of the dead. This fable is founded 
upon the circumftance of their being after death 
reprefented by the fign called the twins - 3 and as 
one of the ftars which compofe that fign appears 
above the horizon whilft the other remains 
concealed, the poets invented this pretended di- 
vifion of immortality. Hiftory informs us that 
they were both buried near Scyades, a town of 
Laconia, and according to a cuftom abfurd enough, 
but common at that time, their temple was erected 
by the fide of their tomb. 

They were firft honoured as heroes; but the 
Greeks afterwards admitted them to the rank of 
their fuperior divinities, and the Romans, who 
conftantly imitated the Greeks, honoured them in 
the fame character. They were thought frequently 
to appear to men, and were generally reprefented 
on horfeback, under the figure of two young men, 
wearing a cap with a ftar upon the top of it. This 
manner of reprefenting them proves, that the 
equeftrian art was known before the Trojan war. 



HISTORY 




Birrel sc. 



iiistokY of orpheus* 



4 i 9 



HISTORY OF ORPHEUS, 

Some learned men, from a paflage which 
we meet with in Cicero, have called the exiftence 
of Orpheus in queftion but this opinion cannot 
difcredit that of all antiquity, and of the graveft 
hiftorians. In every account of the Argonautic 
expedition, which has been tranfmitted to us, we 
find him conftantly mentioned. Some indeed 
reckon five of the name of Orpheus, and relate 
the particular adventures of each, from whence they 
conclude that it has been the fame with this cele- 
brated perfonage as with Hercules, and that the 
actions of feveral have been united to form the 
hiftory of one man. Orpheus was fon of GEagrus 
king of Thrace, and the Mufe Calliope. The 
brilliancy of his talents" cau fed him to be regarded 
as the offspring of Apollo. Mufeus was his fon. 
The application of O rpheus to matters of religion, 
and his different voyages to acquire that fpecies of 
knowledge, obtained for him the title of high priefl, 
as well as king. He was regarded as the minifter 
and interpreter of the will of the Gods. 

Before his time the flute . was almofi the only 
inftrument in ufe j he invented the harp, which it 
was pretended he had received from Apollo and 
Mercury ; to him the lyre was indebted for two 
additional firings. Orpheus had many who imi- 
£ e 2 tared 



420 HISTORY OF ORPHEUS* 

tated him, but none who ever excelled him ; the 
invention of hexameter verfe is aferibed to him* 
he was at once great in the different characters of 
theologian, philofopher, and mufician. He de- 
fcribed the origin of the world, by faying that from 
a large egg proceeded love, and that love was the 
principle of all beings. This definition, given by 
one of the greaterl men of antiquity, proves how 
unable is genius itfeif, when left to its own ftrength 
and conclufions, to attain the elevated idea of one 
only God, all powerful, and creator of all things. 
CEagrus, his father, gave him his hrfl notions of 
religion, by inflrucling him in the myfleries of 
Bacchus, as they were at that time praclifed in 
Thrace. He afterwards placed himfelf under the 
tuition of the DacTyli Idaei, but it -was particularly 
during his refidence in Egypt, that he became 
acquainted with the myfleries of Bacchus, or Ofiris, 
and of Ifis or Ceres. Concerning initiations^ 
funeral ceremonies, and other points of religious 
worihip, he acquired a knowledge much fuperior 
to that which he pofTefTed before. It was from 
this country he brought the ftory of the infernal 
regions, the orgies, and other ceremonies after- 
wards adopted by the Greeks. After him Mufeus 
his fon, Melampus, and feveral others made the 
fame voyage. 

Orpheus at his return into Greece made himfelf of 
great confideration,byperfuading the natives that he 

knew 



HISTORY OF ORPHEUS. 42 1 

knew the means of expiating crimes, purifying the 
guilty, healing unknown difeafes, and appealing the 
anger of the gods. From the funeral ceremonies 
of the Egyptians he borrowed the materials for his 
defcription of the infernal regions. This was the 
mod powerful check upon* vice which that great 
man thought it poffible to impofe. Among the 
iEginetes he inftituted the myfteries of Hecate 3 and 
thofe of Ceres he eftablifhed at Sparta. In 
the religion of the Greeks he made fuch consider- 
able alterations for the better, that he muft be 
regarded as the firfb and greater! of their reformers. 
He much improved, likewife, their manner of 
living ; in fhort, his talents and the eminent fervice 
which he rendered mankind have juftly procured 
him a place among the moft celebrated men of 
antiquity. Having had the misfortune to lofe his 
wife Eurydice whom he tenderly loved^ he went 
to a place in Thefprotia called Aornos. Here an 
ancient Oracle gave anfwers, and pretended to 
have the power of raifing up the fpirits of the dead; 
and indeed Orpheus for a moment thought he faw 
and had found his dear Eurydice ; but the illufion 
lafted only a moment me vanifhed from his fight; 
he vainly turned himfelf on every fide in fearch of 
her: defpair and anguifh now took pofTeffion of his 
foul, and the friendly hand of death foon once 
more united him to his beloved fpoufe. Other 
authors relate his death differently: they fay, that 
e e 3 the 



422 HISTORY OF ORPHEUS, 

the Thracian women, enraged to fee themfelves 
abandoned by their hufbands, who were following 
Orpheus, lay in wait for him and tore him to 
pieces. Plutarch affures us of this facl, and adds 
that the men revenged his death by their treatment 
of their wives. Some authors agreeing with Plu- 
tarch as to the manner of his death, pretend that 
he was maffacred in Macedonia and it is. certain 
that his tomb was to be feen near the city of 
Dion. It confifted of one limple pillar bearing a 
marble urn. 

The voyage of Orpheus into Thefprotia gave 
rife to the fable of his defcent into the infernal re- 
gions. Orpheus, fays Virgil, by the harmony of 
his voice, fufpended the torments of the damned, 
Pluto himfelf could not refifl, but reftored to 
him Eurydice, on condition that he mould 
not look behind him. His anxious tendernefs 
could not be retrained, he looked and loft once 
more his deareft treafure. 

In the time of Orpheus, magic and the conju- 
ration of the dead were much praclifed ; this 
undoubtedly gave rife to the fable of Orpheus 
having again found Eurydice. Some authors ex-r 
plain it differently. They fay, that fhe was bit- 
ten by a ferpent, and that Orpheus cured her ; 
but being fhortly after attacked by another difor- 
der, which proved fatal, that this gave occafion 

to 



HISTORY OF ORPHEUS. 423 

to the ftory of a fecond defcent into the infernal 
regions. 

The poetical productions of Orpheus were few 
in number and very ihort. The Lycomides (an 
Athenian family) knew them by heart, and ufed 
to fing them in celebrating their myfteries. Thefe 
hymns had not the elegance of Homer's verfes, 
yet they were adopted by religion ; an honour 
not conferred upon the poems of the author of 
the Iliad. 

None of the works of Orpheus are now re- 
maining ; the Argonautics and Orphics are by 
Onamacritus, contemporary with Pififtratus, or 
fome other author unknown. The fable which 
defcribes Orpheus as followed by wild beafts 
and even rocks, is an allegory to defcribe his 
exquifite fkill in the fcience of mufic ; it like- 
wife is meant to exprefs that he employed his 
talents in civilizing the rude unpolimed manners 
of his time. 

Orpheus was contemporary with the Argonauts. 
The charm and illufions attached to his me- 
mory occafioned it to be faid, and even in- 
duced a perfuafion, that the nightingales in the 
vicinity of his tomb furpaiTcd all others in the 
ftrength and melody of their voices. None could 
walk under the made of the facred wood which 
furrounded his urn, without. experiencing a religi- 
ous veneration, and the imagination, drawn by a 

e e 4 pleafing 



4H CALYDONI AN HUNT. 

pleafing, tender melancholy, thought at every- 
noife it heard the fighs of Orpheus, and faw the 
wandering made of poor Eurydice. 



CALYDONIAN HUNT, MELEAGER, 
ATALANTA. 



The hiftory of this hunt is found in Ho- 
mer ; we mall firfl give his account, which is 
entirely devoid of fiction, except the inter- 
vention of the goddefs Diana and afterwards we 
mall notice the additions made to it by other 
poets. The Curetes and the warlike iEtolians car- 
ried on a cruel war under the walls of Calydon. 
The iEtolians defended the city, which the Cure- 
tes attacked with all their forces. This war had 
been excited by Diana, to revenge herfelf upon 
CEneus, who had forgotten her in his facrifices. 
Enraged to fee her altars neglected, me fent a 
monftrous boar, which fpread devaluation through 
the cultivated lands, tore up trees, and defolated 
the whole country. The brave Meleager, fon of 
CEneus, afTembled a troop of hunters, to go in 
queft of this terrible animal, which had already 
filled iEtoliawith mourning. The boar was killed 
by Meleager, but Diana's wrath was not yet ap- 
peafed. Irritated by this goddefs, the /Etolians 
and Curetes difputed the honour of poHe fling the 



CALYDONIAN HUNT. ^g^ 

fkin of this monfter, and nothing but a war 
could terminate, their difference. The brave Me- 
leager at the head of the .ZEtolians was not daunted 
by the fuperior force of the Curetes > ' when he fal- 
lied forth nothing could protect them from his fury. 

It was in one of thefe bloody combats that he 
flew the two brothers of his mother Althaea. 
Difconfolate for her lofs, ihe yields to the indig- 
nation which kindles in her bofom, and with hor- 
rid imprecations calls on Proferpine and Pluto to 
revenge her by the death of her fon. Now 
fierce and cruel Difcord rode triumphant through 
the furrounding air ; Hie hears Althaea's cries, and 
pleafed, fhe echoes back the welcome found. The 
fiery Meleager heard too, and his proud heart, 
fwollen with rage and difdain, refolved to abandon, 
the iEtolians to the hofdle attack. Retired with 
his wife Cleopatra, he refufes even to hear the 
ifTue of the battles fought. His abfence gives 
frefh courage to the Curetes, they redouble their 
attacks, and the iEtolians are nearly vanquished. 

The mod ancient fages, and the moil vene- 
rable priefts, are then deputed to Meleager to 
requefb his aid in the prcfervation of Calydon, 
CEneus, alarmed at the danger which threat- 
ens his city and his fubjeclis, cafts himfelf at the 
feet of his fon. The brothers of Meleager join 
their fupplications, and even his mother, touched 
with repentance, unites her tears but all in vain $ 

he 



• 



426 . CALYDONIAN HUNT. 

he remains inflexible. In the mean while the Cu» 
retes, already mailers of the city walls, prefent 
tfternfelves before the avenues of the palace ; al- 
ready are their hands armed with torches to con- 
fume it ; it was then the beautiful Cleopatra on 
her knees befought him to prated her from the 
impending danger. 

Unable to refill fo many tears and fupplica- 
tlons, he once more takes his arms ; fury fpar- 
kles in his eyes, he darts into the thicker! of the 
fight and bears down all before him death and 
definition mark every ftep. The vanquished 
foe now only thinks of flight, and Calydon is laved 
by his victorious arm. 

in this account of Homer, as we have obferved, 
nothing is fabulous but the intervention of Diana ; 
the other facts are recorded in hiftory. That poet 
gives the names of the principal hunters, among 
whom we diltinguifh Thefeus, and the beautiful 
Atalanta, fo famous for her fwiftnefs in the chace. 
It was at her feet Meleager laid the fkin of the 
Calydonian boar, the fetal caufe of the death of 
his uncles, Plexippus and Toxeus. 

Ovid, and the poets who fucceeded Homer, have 
made many additions to this account.. It was 
they who invented the ftory of the fatal brand to 
which the days of Meleager were attached. They 
fay that at the moment of his birth, the Fates 
put into the fire a brand, and predicted that this 

prince 



r 



CALYDONIAN HUNT. j^j 

prince fhould expire as foon as that brand was 
confumed they then began to fpin the thread of 
his life, and the brand was already in flames when 
they left the apartment of Aithasa. No fooner 
were they gone, than that princefs flew towards 
the fire, feized the brand, and carefully preferved 
it to prolong the days of her fon ; but when Me- 
leager had flain his two uncles, who difputed him 
the Ikin of the Calydonian boar, Althsea, going to 
return thanks to the gods for the fuccefs of her 
fon, met the dead bodies of her two brothers ; 
impelled by a blind fury, and forgetful of mater- 
nal tendernefs, Hie committed to the flames the 
fatal brand, and Meleager periihed in a few mo- 
ments, as though confumed by fire. 

The cruel Althasa, when her rage had fubfided, 
unable to fupport fo afflicting a Bght, terminated 
her exiftence, and the two lifters of Meleager died 
of grief. It was pretended they were changed into 
birds called Meleagrides. CEneus, after the death 
of Althaea^ married Perhibasa, by whom he had 
Diomedes. Paufanias relates, that one of the 
tufks of this boar was to be feen at Rome. It 
was of a mofl enormous fize. Auguflus had it 
brought from the town of Tegea, as well as the 
flatue of Minerva, to punifh the Arcadians for 
having taken part againft: him in his war with 
Antony. Cleopatra, wife of Meleager, was 
daughter to Idaeus, brother of Lynceus and Mar- 
i peflfa. 



42$ HIPPOMENES AND ATA LAN T A. 

pefla. Polydora, daughter of Meleager and Cleo- 
patra, married Protefilaus, who was the firfl: that 
landed on the Trojan more, though the oracle had 
predicted death to him who mould firft touch 
that fatal bank. Polydora, unable to furvive the 
{ofs of her huiband, died foon after. 

We mall here likewife infert the fable of Atalanta, 
as told by Ovid. 

She had confecrated herfelf to Diana, but from 
her extraordinary beauty became the object of 
jiniverfal purfuit. Wifhing to deliver herfelf from 
fo many importunities, me promifed to efpoufe 
him who mould outftrip her in the race ; but on 
condition that her fuitors mould be without arms, 
whereas lhe mould be armed with a javelin, and 
have the liberty of piercing thofe to the heart 
who mould be vanquished. The conditions were 
accepted. Already had feveral paid the forfeit of 
their lives, when Hippomenes prefented himfelf. 
Venus, whom he invoked, proved favourable to 
his prayers; me gave him three apples from 
the garden of the ' Hefperides. Thus provided, 
Hippomenes repaired to the courfe. The con- 
ditions imported that the candidate mould Hart 
firfl:.. By the advice of Venus, when nearly over- 
taken, he dropped one of his apples, which Atalanta, 
relying on her fwiftnefs, flopped to pick up ; he 
then let fall another, and afterwards a third, which 
fhe Ikewift ftaid to collect., but unable to repair 
■ 3 the 



CfiOB.it SUS.- 4$g 

the time loft, Hippomenes firft reached the goal* 
and efpoufed her. Having afterwards profaned 
the temple of Cybele, or a wood confe crated to 
that goddefs, Hippomenes was transformed into 
a lion > and Ataianta into a lionef?. 

The little occafion we fhalJ have hereafter to 
fpeak of the city of Calydon, induces us to place 
here the hirlory of Chorasfus. 

This Chorasfus, who was high priefb to Bacchus^ 
conceived a moft violent affeclion for Callirrhoe, a 
princefs of the royal blood. In vain did he try 
every art to pleafe her, fhe was infenfible to all 
his efforts. Defpairing of fuccefs, he invoked the 
aid of Bacchus, who infpired the Calydonians with 
iuch a furious intoxication that they ilaughtered 
each other. The oracle being applied to, returned 
for anfwer, that this calamity could not be removed 
but by facrificing Callirrhoe, or him who mould 
devote himfelf to fave her. Already the altar 
aw T aited its victim, and the people of Calydon with 
loud voices demanded the horrible facrince from 
which they hoped for fafety. Chorasfus holding 
the facred knife advanced, the unhappy maid 
is brought bound to his feet, her tender limbs 
confined with galling bands, her bofom ex- 
pofed to the fatal blow. Chorsefus carls on her 
a parting look ; his faultering hand fufpends the 
uplifted blow ; tumultuous murmurs rife ; he 
iheathes his weapon in its owner's breaft. Callir- 
rhoe 



43° TWO THEBAN WARS* 

rhoe convinced by this aft of the heroic and gene- 
rous tendernefs ofChoraefus, could not furvive him* 
me terminated her exigence near the fountain of 
Calydon, which from that time was called by her 
name. 

OF THE TWO THEBAN WARS. 

i o conclude the hiftory of the heroic 
times, it remains for us to fpeak of the two 
Theban wars. iEfchylus, Sophocles and Euripides 
have made them the fubjecl: of feveral tragedies ; 
and Statius has celebrated them in an epic poem. 

The finimed performances of thefe iiluftrious 
poets are too famous and too well known not to 
merit the attention of our readers. Extracts would 
but disfigure them, and be fides are never fatisfac- 
tory. We fhall confine ourfelves then to an 
abridgment of this hiflory, and have no doubt but 
we mail more oblige our readers, by giving the 
account of them which we find in the travels of the 
young Anacharfis, than by any thing which we 
could write upon that fubjecl:, 

"'The difpleafure of the gods had long hung hea- 
vy over the kingdom of Thebes. Cadmus driven 
from the throne which he himfelf had erected 
Polydorus torn limb from limb by the Bacchantes 
Labclacus carried off by a premature death, leaving 

a fon 



TWO THEBAN WARS. 43! 

a fon, an infant in the cradle, furrounded with ene- 
mies ; fuch had been the fate of the royal family 
fmce its original foundation, when Laius, fon and 
fuccefTor to Labdacus, having twice loft and reco- 
vered the crown, efpoufed Epicafta, or Jocafta, 
daughter of Menceceus. For thefe nuptials 
were referved the mo ft dreadful calamities. The 
fon that ftiould fpring from this marriage, it had 
been foi-etold by the oracle, ftiould be the mur- 
derer of his father, and the hufband of his mother. 
The child was born, and by his parents expofed to 
become the prey of wild beafts. His cries, or 
chance, led to a difcovery of him, and he was pre- 
fented to the queen of Corinth, who adopted him 
as her fon, and brought him up under the name 
of GEdipus. When arrived at years of maturity, 
being informed of the dangers which he had es- 
caped, he confulted the gods, and their minifters 
having by their anfwers confirmed what the oracle 
had predicted before his birth, he was precipitated 
into the misfortunes he wifhed to avoid. Deter- 
mined no more to return to Corinth, which he 
regarded as his native country, he took the road 
to Phocis, and meeting in a narrow way an old 
man, who haughtily required him not to obftrucl: 
the pafTage, and even offered to remove him by 
violence, CEdipus fell upon him, and flew him. 
This was his father Laius. 

"After this fatal accident, the kingdom of Thebes 

and 



43- TWO THEBAN WARJi 

and the hand of Jocafta were promifed to feifti 
who' mould deliver Thebes from the miferies with 
which it was afflicted. Sphynx, natural daughter 
of Laius, having united herfelf with fome banditti* 
laid wade the country - s detained travellers by art- 
ful quedions^ and bewildering them in the intrica- 
cies of mount Phineus, betrayed them into the 
hands of her treacherous aiTociates. CEdipus dif- 
covered her retreats, difperfed the accomplices of 
her crimes, and in reaping the fruit of his victory 
fulfilled the oracle in its whole extent. 

cc Inceft reigned triumphant upon the earth, but 
heaven hailed to check its progrefs. An unwel- 
come difcovery came to confound this guilty pair; 
Jocafta terminated her misfortunes by a violent 
death ; and CEdipus (fome authors fay) tore out 
his eyes, and died in Attica, where Thefeus had 
offered him an afylum. But according to other ac- 
counts, he was condemned to fupport the light, to 
fee the theatre of his crimes ; and life, to tranfmit it 
to children more criminal and more unhappy than 
himfelf. Thefe were Eteocles, Polynices, Anti- 
gone and Ifmena, all of whom he had by Eurigania 
his fecon4 wife. The two princes were no fooner 
of an age to govern, than they confined CEdipus 
in a remote part of his palace, and agreed to hold 
b^y turns the reins of government, during a year. 
Eteocles firft mounted this throne, ever tottering 
on the brink of ruin, and refufed to refign it at the 

appointed 



TWO THE BAN WARS, 433 

appointed time. Polynices applied to'Adraftus, 
king of Argos, to procure redrefs, who gave him 
his daughter in marriage, and promifed him pow- 
erful affiftance. 

" Such was the occafion of the firft expe- 
dition in which the Greeks difplayed fome 
knowledge of the military art. Before this time 
ive have feen troops without order over-run a 
neighbouring country, and retire after having com- 
mitted fome temporary ravages and cruelties. In 
the war of Thebes, we fee projects concerted with 
prudence, and purfued with firmnefs ; people of 
different nations afifembled in the fame camp, and 
fubjecl: to the fame authority, difplaying a courage 
equal to the rigour of the feafons, the delays of a 
fiege, and the dangers of daily combats. Adraftus 
divided the command of the army with Polynices, 
whom he wifhed to eftablifti on the Theban throne ; 
the brave Tydeus, fon of CEneus, king of iEtoJia; 
the fiery Capaneus ; Amphiaraus the augur j Hip- 
pomedon and Parthenopasus. After thefe warriors, 
all illuflrious for their birth and valour, appeared 
a fucceflion lefs diftinguifhed for their merit and 
dignities ; the principal inhabitants of Arcadia and 
Argolis. 

" The army being put in motion, entered the 
foreft of Nemea, where its generals inftituted games, 
which are ftill celebrated with the greater!: folemnity. 

" After palling the ifthmus of Corinth, it pro- 

F f ceededj. 



434 1 TW0 THEBAN WARS. 

ceeded into Bceotia, and compelled the troops of 
Eteocles to confine themfelves within the walls of 
Thebes. The Greeks were as yet unacquainted 
with the art of taking a place defended by a ftrong 
garrifon. All the efforts of the befiegers were 
directed towards the gates, and all the hopes of 
the befieged confided in frequent fallies. The 
actions thefe occafioned had already coft many 
lives on both fides.; already had the brave Capa- 
neus been precipitated from the top of a ladder 
which he had applied to the wall, when Eteocles 
and Polynices agreed themfelves to determine their 
difpute. The day was fixed, the place appointed $ 
the people in tears, the armies in filence awaited 
the event, when the two princes rufhing furioufly 
together, pierced each other with repeated wounds, 
and even death, could not appeafe their mu- 
tual rancour. Their bodies were placed upon the 
fame funeral pile, and with a view of exprefiing 
by a frightful imagine the fentiments which 
had animated them during life, it was pretended 
that the flame, penetrated with their hatred, had 
divided, that their afhes might not be confounded. 
Creon, brother of Jocafta, was charged, during the 
minority of Laodamas, fon of Eteocles, with the 
continuance of a war which became every 'day 
more fatal to the befiegers, and which was at laft 
terminated by a vigorous fally on the part of the 
Thebans. The combat was bloody $ Tydeus and 

the, 



TWO THEBAN WARS. 435 

the greater part of the Argian generals were 
flain. 

<c Adraitus, conftrained to raife the fiege., could 
not beftow the rights of burial upon thofe left dead 
in the field of battle. Thefeus was obliged to 
interpofe his authority, and compel Creon to fub- 
mit to the rights of nations, v/hich then began to 
be obferved. The victory of the Thebans only 
fufpended for a fhort time their deflruclion. The 
Argian chiefs had left fons worthy to revenge them. 
When arrived at a proper age,thefe young princes, 
in whofe number were Diomedes, fon of Tydeus, 
and Sthenelus, fon of Capaneus, at the head of a 
formidable army entered the territory of their ene- 
my. A battle was foon fought, and the Thebans 
being defeated, abandoned their city, which was 
delivered up to pillage. Therfander, fon and fuc- 
cefTor of Polynices, was killed fome years after on 
his way to the fiege of Troy. After his death 
Thebes was governed by two princes more of the 
fame family, but the fecond being fuddenly feized 
with madnefs, the Thebans, perfuaded that the 
Furies would haunt the blood of CEdipus as long 
as a drop of it remained upon the earth, placed 
another family on the throne. Three generations 
after they adopted the republican form of govern- 
ment, which they ftill retain. 5 ' 



F F 2 



OF 



43 6 



TROJAN WAR* 



OF THE TROJAN WAR. 

The extract we have juft given of the 
twp Theban wars is fufRcient, no doubt, to mow the 
neceflity of recurring to thofe matter ly perform- 
ances which the ancients have left us upon that 
interefting fubject. We think it advifable to 
adopt the fame plan, in fpeaking of the moft 
celebrated event in the Grecian hiftory. When 
we mention Troy, the names of Homer and Virgil 
naturally occur to every mind. To prefume to 
make extracts from them, would be to militate 
againfl: every principle of tafte. We mail content 
ourfelves therefore with tranferibing what the 
author of the travels of Anacharfis prefents us 
with upon this fubject. 

<c The repofe which Greece enjoyed after 
the fecond Theban war, could not be of long 
duration. The chiefs of that expedition re- 
turned covered with glory ; the foldiers. loaded 
with booty; both appeared with that pride 
and importance which ever accompany victory; 
and relating to their children and friends who ga- 
thered round them, the hiftory of their labours 
and exploits, made a powerful impreffion upon 
the imagination, and kindled in every breaft an 
ardent third for war. An event which quickly follow- 
ed, difcovered the effects which this had produced. 

« On 



TROJAN WAR. 437 

cc On the coaft of Afia, oppofite to Greece, 
reigned Priam, king of Troy, a peaceful prince, 
defcended from a long line of kings, having him* 
felf a numerous race, aimoft entirely compofed of 
youthful heroes. His kingdom, by its opulence, 
the bravery of his fubjecls, and the alliances which 
he had formed with the Aflyrian monarchs, was 
equally as famous in that part of Afia as the 
kingdom of Mycense was in Greece. 

cc The houfe of Argos, eftablifhed in this latter 
city, acknowledged for its chief Agamemnon, 
fon of Atreus. He had annexed to his dominions 
thofe of Corinth, Sicyon, and feveral neighbour- 
ing cities. His power, increafed by that of his 
brother Menelaus, who had juft efpoufed Helen, 
heirefs to the kingdom of Sparta, gave him great 
influence in that part of Greece called, from his 
grandfather Pelops, Peloponnefus. Tantalus, his 
great grandfather, reigned firft over Lydia, and 
had, in violation of the mod facred rights, retained 
in chains a Trojan prince, named Ganymede, 
Further, Hercules, defcended from the kings of 
Argos, had more recently put to death Laomedon 
and carried off his daughter Hefione. 

The remembrance of thefe unrevenged injuries 
maintained an hereditary and implacable hatred 
between the houfes of Priam and Agamemnon, 
which every day became more inveterate from a 
rivalry of power, the moft terrible and fanguinary 

Of 



438 TROJAN WAR. 

of all paftions. Paris, fon of Priam, was the man 
for whom it was refervcd to blow into a flame 
thefe embers of refentment. Paris came into 
Greece, and repaired to the court of Menelaus, 
where the beauty of Helen attracted every eye. 
To the advantages of perfon, the Trojan prince 
united the defire of pleafing, and Helen abandoned 
all to follow him. In vain did the Atrides en- 
deavour by gentle means to obtain a fatisfaction 
equal to the offence - 3 Priam confidered his fon only 
as the avenger of thofe wrongs which his houfe and 
all Afia had experienced from the Greeks, and 
rejected every propofal for an accommodation. 
At this extraordinary news, tumultuous fangui- 
nary cries and rumours, which announced ap- 
proaching war and flaughter, burft forth and 
fpread on every fide. The Grecian nations feem 
like the fore ft agitated by a tempeft. Kings, whofe 
power was confined within a fingle city, and mo- 
narchs, whofe empire extended over many nations., 
all equally infpired with the fpirit of heroifm re- 
pair to Mycense. 

iC They fwear to acknowledge Agamemnon chief 
of the expedition, to avenge Menelaus, and to 
raze Ilium to the ground. If fome at firft refufed 
to join in this confederacy, they are foon per- 
fuaded by the powerful eloquence of the venerable 
Neftor, king ofPylos; by the artful language of 
Ulyffesj king of Ithaca by the examples of Ajax, 

of 



TROJAN WAR. 439 

of Salamis ; Idomeneus, of Crete 5 Achilles, fon 
of Peleus, who reigned over part of TherTalyj and 
a crowd of youthful warriors, already intoxicated 
with their hopes of fuccefs. After long prepa- 
rations, the army, confiding of about one hundred 
thoufand men, affembled at the port of Aulis, and 
embarked on board a fleet of near twelve hundred 
veftels for the Trojan fhore. 

c< The town of Troy, defended by towers and 
ramparts, was likewife protected by a numerous 
army, under the command of Hector, fon of 
Priam with him were many allied princes, whofe 
troops were joined to thole of Troy. Being aflem- 
bled on the more, they prefent a formidable front 
to the Grecian army, which having repulfed them, 
fhuts itfelf up in a camp, with the greater!: part of 
its veiTels. Again the hoftile armies try their 
itrength, and the doubtful fuccefs of many battles 
proves that the fiege will be protracted to a diftant 
period. With flight built vefTels, and very little 
knowledge of the art of navigition, the Greeks had 
not been able to eftablifn a regular communication 
between Greece and Afia, and provifions began 
to fail. Part of the fleet was fent to ravage, or 
fow grain, in the ifles, and neighbouring coafts, 
whilft parties difperfed themfelves'over the coun- 
try, and carried off the flocks and harvefts. An- 
other motive rendered thefe detachments indifpen- 
fibly neceffary. The town was not inverted, and 

f f 4 m as 



44© TROJAN WAR. 

as the troops of Priam fecured it from being taken 
by furprize, it was refolved to attack the allies of 
that prince, either for the advantage of their fpoils, 
or to deprive Priam of their atfiftance. Achilles 
carried every where fire and fword - } having like a 
raging torrent fwept all away before him, he re- 
turned loaded with immenfe booty, which he dif- 
tributed among the army, and with numberlefs 
flaves, which were divided among the generals. 

<c Troy was fituated at the foot of mount Ida, at 
fome diftance from the fea$ the tents and vefTels 
of the Greeks occupied the more - 3 the fpace be- 
tween was the theatre of their courage and ferocity. 
The Greeks and Trojans, armed with pikes, clubs, 
fwords, and javelins, defended by helmets, breaft- 
plates, cuifhes and fhields, with thick embattled 
ranks, and headed by their generals, advanced to 
meet each other - 9 the former with loud fhouts, the 
latter with afilence (till more frightful. Immediately 
the chiefs, becoming foldiers, more anxious to, 
give great examples than fage advice, precipitate 
themfelves into the greater! dangers, and almoft al- 
ways leave to chance the care of a fuccefs they 
neither know how to prepare, nor to improve the 
troops confufedly beat and crum each other, like 
the waves driven and repelled by the wind in the 
Eubasan ftraits. Night parts the combatants ; the 
city, or the entrenchments, receive the vanquifhed ; 
the victory cofts much blood without any decifive 

advantage. 



TROJAN WAR. 44 i 

advantage. Next day the pile confumes the flain, 
and tears and funeral games honour their memory. 
The truce expires, and the conflict, is renewed. 
Often in the heat of an engagement a warrior, with 
a loud voice, defies to fingle combat any who 
dare oppofe him. The troops in filence fee them, 
now launch their arrows, or the mafly fragment of 
a broken rock, now hand to hand engage, and try 
by mutual infults more to provoke each other's rage. 
Victory did not fatiate their fury j if they could not 
disfigure the body of their fallen enemy, and de- 
prive it of the rights of burial, they (trove at lean: 
to fpoil it of its arms j but in an inftant the troops on 
both fides advance either to ravifh from him his 
prey, or to fecure it to him, and the action becomes 
general. This likewife happens when one party 
has too much to fear for the life of its champion, or 
when he himfelf endeavours to preferve it by 
flight. Circumftances could juftify this laft con- 
duct he who fled without fighting was branded 
with eternal infamy and difgrace, becaufe at all 
times we muft know how to face death to be de- 
fending of life j but the man who having expe- 
rienced the fuperiority of his ad verfary endeavoured 
to fave himfelf, was treated with indulgence. The 
valour of thefe times confifling lefs in courage of 
mind than in a reliance on their own flrength ; it 
was no fhame to retreat, when compelled by ne- 
cefiity 5 but it was a glory to reach the flying foe, 

and 



44 2 TROJAN WAR. 

and to the fcrength which prepares victory, to 
unite the fpeed which fecures it. 

cc AfFociations of arms and fentiments between two 
warriors,were never fo common as during the Tro- 
jan war. Achilles and Patroclus,Ajax and Teucer, 
Diomedes and Sthenelus, Idomeneus and Merion, 
and many other heroes worthy to follow their ex- 
ample 'frequently fought fide by fide, and throwing 
themfelves into the thicker!; of the battle, divided 
equally the dangers and the glory ; at other times, 
mounted on the fame, chariot, one guided the fteeds, 
whilft the other fhielded off that death which he 
dealt round amongft the enemy. The lofs of a 
warrior required a fpeedy fatisfacYicn on the part 
of his companion in arms 5 blood demanded blood. 
This idea, fcrongiy imprinted on the mind_,enabled 
both the Greeks and Trojans to fupport the nu- 
merous calamities which they had to encounter. 
Many times were the former nearly mailers of 
the city, as often did the latter force the camp of 
the Greeks, though pallifadoes, ditches, and walls 
defended it. The armies now begin to appear 
diminifhed, and the warriors to difappear. Hector, 
Sarpedon, Ajax, and even Achilles himfelf lay 
numbered with the dead. At fight of this reverfe., 
the Trojans figh for the reftitution of Helen, and 
the Greeks after their native foil 3 but both are 
retrained by fhame, and that unhappy facility 
with which men accuftom themfelves to all but 

happinefs 



TROJAN WAR. - 443 

happincfs and repofe. The whole world had fixed 
its eyes on the plains of Troy, on that fpot 
where glory loudly called thofe princes who had 
not from the beginning engaged in the expedition. 
Impatient to fignalize themfelves on this new 
theatre of action open to all nations, they came 
fuccefiively to join their forces to thofe of their 
allies, and often perifned in the firft engagement. 

cc Atlaft, after ten years' refiftance and labour, after 
loflng the flower of their youth, and their choicefl 
heroes, the city fell under the efforts of the Greeks 
a fall fo great, that it frill ferves for the principal 
epoch in the annals of nations. Its walls, habita- 
tions, and temples, levelled with the ground; 
Priam expiring at the foot of his altars ; his fons 
tnaffacred around him Hecuba, his wife, CafTandra, 
his daughter, and many other princeffes loaded 
with chains, and dragged like flaves through the 
blood which ran in torrents down the flreets, 
amidft a whole people, confumed in the devouring 
flames, or deftroyed by the avenging fword : fuch 
was the cataftrophe of this difmal tragedy. The 
Greeks fatiated their Vengeance ; but this cruel 
fatisfaction was the meafure of their profperity, and 
the beginning of their misfortunes. 

" Their return was diftinguifhed by the mod cruel 
difafters. Mneflheus, king of Athens, ended his days 
in the ifland of Melos j Ajax, king of the Locrians, 
perilhed with his whole fleet j UlyfTes, more unfor- 
tunate 



V 



444 TROJAN WAR. 

tunate, was frequently in danger of the fame fate, 
during ten years that he traverfed the main: others 
ftill more worthy to be pitied, were received by 
their families like ftrangers inverted with titles 
which, through long abfence, had been forgotten, 
and which an unexpected return now rendered 
odious. Inflead of the tranfports their prefence 
ought to have excited, they heard nothing around 
them but the horrid cries of ambition, adultery, 
and the moft fordid intereft : betrayed by their re- 
lations and friends, the major part, under the con- 
dud of Idomeneus, Philoctetes, Diomedes, and 
Teucer, went into unknown countries in fearch of 
more faithful connections. The houfe of Argos 
involved itfelf in the blackeft crimes, and tore its 
entrails with its own hands. Agamemnon found 
his bed and throne polluted by abafe ufurper, and 
died murdered by his wife Clytemneftra, who fome 
time after fell by the hand of her own fon Orefles. 
Thefe horrors, at that time fpread over all Greece, 
and ftill reprefented on the Athenian ftage, mould 
be a warning to both monarchs and people, and 
teach them to dread even victory itfelf. That of 
the Greeks was as fatal to themfelves as to the 
Trojans 3 weakened by their exertions and their 
fuccefTes, they could no longer refill: their inteftine 
divifions, and accuftomcd themfelves to that de- 
finitive idea, that war is as ,necerTary to ftates as 
peace. In a few generations, the greater part of 

thefe 



TROJAN WAR. 443 

thefe fovereign houfes, which had deftroyed that 
of Priam* fell, and were buried in oblivion, and 
within eighty years after the demolition of Troy, 
part of the Peloponnefus pafTed into the hands of 
the Heraclides, or defendants of Hercules." 

The year of the capture of Troy forms a very 
eflential epoch for the knowledge of thofe events 
which happened in the times called Fabulous. 
Ancient authors differ much in their manner of 
fixing it. The illuflrious Sir Ifaac Newton places 
it about nine hundred and feven years before the 
Chriftian era. Eratoflhenes, quoted by Eufebius, 
and Apollodorus, quoted by Clement of Alex- 
andria, fay that this city was taken 1181 years 
before the Chriftian era, 450 years before the 
foundation of Rome, and about 400 years before 
the firfh Olympiad, the laft year of the reign of 
Mneftheus, king of Athens, and at the time when 
Ehud was judge of Ifrael. This latter is the 
opinion mod generally adopted. Any thing that 
we could add to the extract from the travels of 
Anacharfis would be ufeleis, and extend this work 
beyond its defiined limits. We have carefully- 
traced the principal events down to that epoch, 
and we fhall undoubtedly be excufed if we abridge 
our labours, and are even fiient, when for informa- 
tion we refer our readers to the flnimed produc- 
tions of Homer, Virgil, and Fenelon. 



OF 



us 



ANTIQUITY OF TEMPLES. 



OF THE ANTIQUITY OF TEMPLES. : 

That temples are of great antiquity is 
undoubted, but the precife period when they were 1 
firft, erected is not known, Idolatry had its rife 
in Egypt and Phoenicia a fhort time after the 
deluge; confequently, it is in thefe two countries 
we muft feek for whatever concerns religious 
worfhip and the ufe of temples. The fyftem of 
Idolatry was not e flab limed at once, and cere- 
monies were only introduced by degrees. A rude 
uncivilifed worfhip was firft paid to their falfe di- 
vinities - 9 altars of (tone or turf in an open field were 
the only preparations for their facrifices. Places 
were not enclofed, chapels nor temples built till 
fome time after. The Egyptians themfelves appear 
to have had none in the time of Mofes. The 
filence he obferves on this fubject, may be con- 
fide red as a certain proof that they had none. It 
is reafonable to believe, that the Tabernacle erected 
by that legiflator in the Defart (which may be con- 
fidered as a portable temple) was the firft known, 
and ferved as a model for all others. 

This temple borne by the Ifraelites in fight of . 
the nations near which they pafTed, might have 
given them the firft idea of building one themfelves. 
The temple of Dagon, god of the Philiflines, 
mentioned in Scripture, was probably' an imitation 

2 of 



ANTIQUITY OF TEMPLES. 4|/ 

ot the tabernacle, and the place which contained 
it : a proof of this is, that this temple had fecret 
places called Adyta, which correfponded to the 
JanBum Janftorum. Every thing concurs to prove 
that the cuilom of building temples was by the 
Egyptians propagated among other nations. Lu- 
cian fays, that Affyria, Phoenicia, Syria, and other 
neighbouring nations, received this cuilom from 
the Egyptians. From Egypt and Phoenicia it 
found its way into Greece, and from Greece to 
Rome. This opinion is founded upon that of 
Herodotus, and upon the moft authentick monu- 
ments of antiquity. Deucalion firft built temples 
in Greece, and Janus at Rome. 

The temples of the ancients were divided into 
different parts, which it is of fervice to know in 
order to Underftand the defcriptions which they 
give of them. The firu: was the veftibule or porch, 
where was the font or verTel which contained the 
water employed by the prieft in purifying or ex- 
piating thofe who wifhed to enter into the temples. 

The fecond part was the aide. 

The third was the facred place to which the 
laity were not to be admitted. 

Laftly, the fourth was what they called the back 
temple, this was not common to all temples ; but 
all had porticoes and fleps to afcend to them. The 
interior of thefe temples was always ornamented. 
They contained the ft&tues of gods, which were 

frequently 



448 ANTIQUITY OF TEMPLES. 

frequently of gold, ivory, ebony, or fome precious 
matter. Statues of illuftrious men were likewife 
placed there. Here were alfo gildings, paintings, 
and particularly what were called ex voto, fuch as 
prows of veflels when they had efcaped from fhip- 
wreck ; arms taken from the enemy, trophies, 
ihields, tripods, &c. They were depofited inthefe 
temples, which on feaft days were likewife orna- 
mented with branches of olive, laurels and ivy. 
At Rome, when a temple was to be built, the 
aurufpices or foothfayers were appointed to choofe 
the foot; this was then purified and encompaffed 
with ribbons and crowns. The veftals, attended 
by young girls and boys, warned the alloted fpace 
with pure water, the pontiff cleanfed it by a folcmn 
facrifice, and afterwards laid his hands upon the 
firft {tone of the foundation, which was bound 
round with a ribbon. After thefe ceremonies, the 
people took this {tone, and threw it into the trench 
dug for the foundation, together with fome pieces 
of metal which had never paiTed the crucible. 
When the building was completed it was confe- 
crated with the greater!; ceremony. 

fC Nothing could exceed the veneration in which 
the ancients held their temples. Arrian fays, it was 
forbid to fpit or make ufe of the handkerchief in them. 
Sometimes the votaries afcended to them on their 
knees. They were an afylum for debtors and criminals. 
In time of anypublick calamity the women proftrated 

themfelves 



OF THE ANTIQUITY OF TEMPLES. 449 

themfelves in that part called the facred place, 
and iwept it with their hair. However fometimes 
when prayers appeared inefficient to check the 
fcourge, the people became furious, loft all re- 
fpecls for and even profaned the temples. 

We mail not give a defcription of the temples of 
Egypt. After that of Belus the moll celebrated 
were that of Jupiter at Thebes or Diofpolis, that 
of Andera, that of Proteus at Memphis, and that 
of Minerva at Sais. The works of the Egyptians 
were truly magnificent. They admired coloflal 
flatues, and in their buildings employed only ftones 
of an enormous fize, though it was neceflary to 
fetch them from the quarries of Elephantinum, 
which was a voyage of twenty days from Sais. As 
an inftance of this, we may mention the famous 
chapel of Amafis built in upper Egypt, which he 
tranfported to Sais with prodigious pains and labour, 
to place it in the temple of Minerva. 

" What I moft admire of all the works of Amafis, 
(fays Herodotus) is the temple built of a fingle 
itone, which two thoufand pilots and feamen were 
three years in tranfplanting from Elephantinum to 
Sais. This temple, or rather chapel, was twenty- 
one cubits in front, fourteen deep, and eight high.'* 
It ftill exifts, and its dimenfions, according to Mr. de 
Savari in his letters upon Egypt, are confiderably 
more extenfive than ftated by Herodotus. The 
prefent idea we entertain of the arts and mechanick 
G q powers 



TEMPLE OF B£LUS. 

powers (lands confounded before fuch ftupendous 
works, and we mould treat them as fables, did not 
the fight of thole colofial ftatues which have for 
lb many ages braved the hand of deftroying time, 
atteft the truth of their exiflence. This chapel 
however was not placed in the temple of Minerva. 
We are a (lured by Herodotus, that the wife Amafis 
regretted having engaged in fo toilfome an under- 
taking, and caufed it to be left at the gate of the 
temple, becaufe one of the workmen perifhed 
before his eyes. A fine lefTon of humanity, but 
learned too late. 



TEMPLE OF BELUS, 

This, the mofc ancient of pagan tem- 
ples, was likewife the mod fingular in its con- 
ftruclion. 

Berofus, according to Jofephus, attributes the 
building of it to Belus ; but if this Belus be the 
fame as Nimrod, (which is extremely probable,) 
he appears lefs to have built a temple, than a 
tower to fhield himfelf and his people from a fe- 
cond deluge. The manner in which the Almighty 
put a flop to that mad defign is very well known. 
This famous edifice, called the Tower of Babel, 
formed in i bale a fquare, each fide of which con- 
taining the length of a ftadium (a hundred and twenty 

fathoms) 



TEMPLE OF DIANA. 4^ 

fathoms) gave a circumference of more than half 
a mile. The whole work was compofed of eight 
towers, built upon each other, and regularly 
diminifhed towards the top. 

Some authors, deceived by the Latin verfion of 
Herodotus, pretend that each of thefe towers was 
a ftadium in height, which would have made the 
elevation of the whole a full mile and upwards. 
But. the Greek text makes no mention of this 
prodigious height ; and Strabo, who has likewife 
given a defcription of this temple, makes it no 
more than a ftadium in height, and the fame on 
each fide. This temple, fo remarkable for its 
conflruction and its riches, w T as confecrated to the 
memory of Belus. Egypt poITerTed other tem- 
ples more ancient, but they were erected in ho- 
nour of divinities. Herodotus, among others, 
mentions that of Vulcan, built by Menes, who 
was the firft that reigned over Egypt, after the 
time when the Egyptians pretended they had no 
fovereigns but the gods. 

TEMPLE OF DIANA AT EPKESUS. 

This temple, one of the feven wonders 
of the world, was feveral ages in arriving at its 
greater!: degree of perfection. Pliny relates, that 
all Afia contributed to the building of it during 

C G 2 tWO 



45^ TEMPLE OF DIANA. 

two hundred and twenty years, and that two centu- 
ries more were neceflary to adorn and embellim it. 

Pindar, in one of his odes, fays, that it was built 
by the Amazons in their expedition againft the 
Athenians under Thefeus but Paufanias proves 
that this poet was in an error, and tells us, that 
long before the period of that event, thefe very 
Amazons, being firfi defeated by Bacchus, and 
afterwards by Hercules, took refuge at Ephefus in 
the temple of Diana ; and that they made it their 
afylum, when they abandoned the banks of the 
Thermodon. We mall give the defcription of 
this celebrated temple as we find it recorded in 
Pliny. In hopes of fecuring it from earthquakes, 
it was built on a marfhy place, but to give firm- 
nefs and {lability to an edifice fo confiderable, 
and to confolidate the ground rendered loofe by 
the ftagnated water, they employed pulverized 
charcoal, over which they extended the fkins of 
fheep furnifhed with the wool. 

This temple was four hundred and twenty-five 
feet long, and two hundred broad. One hundred 
and twenty-feven columns, which fupported the 
fuperftructure, were prefents from as many kings, 
and were each fixty feet high. Six and thirty of 
thefe columns were carved one in particular by 
the celebrated Scopas. 

Cherfiphron was the firft architect of this fur- 
prifmg temple j the fuperb architraves which he 

employed 



TEMPLE OF JUPITER OLYMPUS. 453 

employed were particularly fubje&s of admira- 
tion ; and to whatever perfection the mechanic 
arts may have been brought in the prefent day, 
it is extremely doubtful, whether they could fuc- 
ceed in railing to fuch a height mafTes of fo enor- 
mous a weight. Cherfiphron and his fon could 
not finifh this magnificent work they were 
fucceeded by other architects, who followed their 
plan, and it was not completely finifhed till 
after the lapfe of two hundred and twenty years. 
All the monarchs and nations of Afia vied with 
each other in enriching this temple. It was burnt 
by Eroftratus, as we have already mentioned un- 
der the article of Diana. 

/ 

TEMPLE OF JUPITER OLYMPUS. 

This temple, and particularly the ftatue 
of Jupiter, the mafter-piece of the immortal Phi- 
dias, was built with the fpoils taken by the -ZElians 
from the Pifans and their allies, when they cap- 
tured and facked the city of Pifa. Libo, a na- 
tive of the country, was the architect of this 
temple. It was of the Doric order, and fur- 
rounded with pillars. The flones employed in 
building it were remarkable for their fmgularity 
and beauty ; they were drawn from the country 
itfelf. The height of this temple, from the ground 

g g 3 to 



454 TEMPLE OF APOLLO. 

to the roof, was fixty-eight feet, the length was 
two hundred and thirty, and the breadth ninety- 
five. The tiles which covered it were of fine 
marble. 

Antiquity pofTefTed nothing more fuperb, or 
more perfectly finifhed, than the throne and ira- 
tue of Jupiter Olympus. Both were compofed 
of gold and ivory. The illuurious Phidias, the 
moll; celebrated of fculptors, either ancient or 
modern, was the artift, and they were confidered 
as the finefl effort of genius. They reached 
from the pavement to the vault, and (truck every 
beholder with admiration and wonder. 

To defcribe ail the riches this temple contained, 
or all the beauties it porTefTed, would be impofnble. 

The pavement was of the moft beautiful mar- 
ble, and the interior was adorned with an infinite 
number of fbtues. 

Kings, people, and the moft celebrated artifts, 
were ail equally eager to enrich it with fome 
monument of their piety, their magnificence, or 
their talents. 



THE TEMPLE OF APOLLO AT BELPHOS. 

This temple was net equal to that of 
Jupiter Olympus in point of beauty and dimen- 
fions, but the incredible number of prefents fent 

3 . to 



TEMPLE OF APOLLO. 435 

to it from all parts rendered it much richer. None 
of its ornaments however could be compared 
with the throne and ftatue of Jupiter Olym- 
pus. A cavern whence proceeded exhalations 
which occafioned a fort of intoxication to thofe 
who approached it, as we have before men- 
tioned, gave birth to the Oracle of Delphos. 
They began by covering this cavern with branches 
of laurel this was fucceeded by a chapel, and 
not long after they built a temple of copper, in 
imitation, no doubt, of the brazen chamber of 
Acrifius, in which he confined his daughter Da- 
nae. This temple being fwallowed up by an 
earthquake, was replaced by another edifice from 
the plan and under the direction of Agamedes and 
Trophonius. This new temple v/as confumed by 
fire, in the firft year of the fifty-eighth Olympiad, 
and was followed by another, which was the laft. 
This fub rifted in the time of Paufanias, and v/as 
considerably fuperior to the preceding, having 
been built by the Amphiclyons, with the gifts 
and contributions of the people exprefsly appro- 
priated to that purpofe. 

To form an idea of the riches it may be fup- 
pofed to have amafTed, we muft remark, that by 
confuiting the Oracle, men hoped to obtain a 
knowledge of the future, and no anfwer could be 
procured, unlefs they had firft made fdme con- 
fiderabie prefent to adorn the temple. We may 

g g 4 form 



456 ?ANTHEON OF ROME. 

form fome e ft i mate of the number of thefe offer- 
ings, when we reflect on the natural reftleffnefs 
of man, and the earneft defire he has to be 
informed of the lot which awaits him. 

Every motive to the conftruction of the temple 
of Jupiter Olympus was grand. The edifice was 
intended to convey an idea of the divine majefty, 
and for that purpofe the fublimefl efforts of art 
were employed. Phidias having in fome me a- 
fure determined its tafte and character, no works 
could be placed near his, but what in fome degree 
approached them. It is thus that the example of 
one great man alone is frequently fufficient to en- 
lighten, and induce the imitation of his age. 

In the temple of Delphos every kind of paffion, 
of curiofity, of anxiety, was admitted to prefent its 
offerings as nothing was refufed, the number mufl 
have been enormous but almofl all mufl have 
been marked with that minute and detached flamp 
which is infeparable from perfonal intereft and 
little minds. 



PANTHEON OF ROME, 

Rome and Italy were not lefs abundant in 
temples than Greece many of them remarkable 
for their magnificence or fingularity. One of the 

moft 



PANTHEON OF ROME. 457 

rnoft beautiful was that of Jupiter in the Capitol - 9 
but the rnoft fuperb, and rnoft fubftantially built 
was the Pantheon, which Hill exifts, and in good 
prefervation, under the name of the Church of 
All Saints, to whom it is now confecrated, as in 
the time of Paganifm it was, to All the Gods. 

The general opinion is, that it was erected by 
the defire and at the expence of Agrippa, fon in 
law to Auguftus. Some authors, however, think 
it more ancient, and fay, that Agrippa only had 
it repaired, and added that portico which ftill con- 
ftitutes its greateft ornament. An opening in the 
middle of the roof, very ingenioufly contrived, 
admits light into the interior of the temple. The 
form of the pantheon is round ; the architect: 
appears to have wifhed to give it the refemblance 
of the globe - } a form which, for the fame reafon A 
was given to feveral ancient temples. The por- 
tico, ftill more furprifing than the temple itfel£ 
is compofed of fixteen pillars of marble, each 
formed from a fmgle block. They are thirty- 
feven feet high, and five feet in diameter. Eight 
columns adorn the front of the portico, and as 
many more fupport its depth. In every part 
the Corinthian order is obferved. In the time of 
pope Eugenius was found near this edifice part 
of a head of bronze, reprefenting Agrippa. At 
the fame time was found the foot of a horfe and 
part of a wheel, of the fame metal. This difco- 

very 



4.58 PANTHEON OF ROME. 

very renders it probable that formerly this portico 
fupported the ftatue of Agrippa, placed on a cha- 
riot with four horfes. The body of the edifice, 
which frill exifls entire, is built upon fuch folid 
foundations that it has remained hitherto unmaken. 
A manufcript of a celebrated Roman architect 
afferts, that the foundation extends confiderably 
beyond the building, and feems to form one fmgle 
mafs of (tone. The ftatue s and riches which for- 
merly adorned it are no longer feen. The emperor 
Conflantius the third took away the plates of gilt 
bronze which covered the whole roof, and pope 
Urban the eighth employed the beams of the fame 
metal which were formerly there, in making the 
altar of St. Peter's at Rome, and the large pieces 
of artillery which belong to the caftie of St, An- 
gelo. The ftatues of the gods which occupied 
the niches have been either ftoien or concealed 
under ground. 

When the celebrated Michael Angelo had 
carefully ftudied every part of the Pantheon, his 
genius burnt with indignation to fee this edifice 
regarded as the greater! effort of architecture. 
He faid to thofe who were admiring it, i will 
raife upon four pillars this temple that fb much 
excites your af:oniihment - 3 and it was then he 
conceived the plan of the famous Cupola of St. 
Peter's at Rome. It is faid, that this extraordinary 
man, equally famous as a painter, architect and 

fculptor. 



+ 



PANTHEON OF ROME. 459 

fculptor, made a will, in which he declared that 
he had only given to the pillars ftrength fuf- 
ficient to fupport the Cupola, and that if ever 
they dirninifhed the ftrength of thefe pillars, they 
would endanger the building. The Chevalier 
Bernini, who long after afpired to equal Michael 
Angelo, regarded this will as a vain* boaft, and 
rafhly abufing the credit which he had acquired 
by fome of his performances, hollowed flairs in 
thefe pillars which were extremely narrow and very 
ufelefs. It is to this prefumptuous experiment 
that are attributed the great chinks, which are at 
pre fen: perceived in the roof of the cupola, 
which it has been found necefTary to ftrengthen 
with immenfe bars of iron; and there is every 
reafon to fear, that the calculation of that great 
artift was but too true. This proves how danger- 
ous it is to place any confidence in the prefump- 
tuous promifes of a rival. After the cliurch of 
St. Peter's at Rome, the cathedral of St. Paul's at 
London is nnqueftionably one of the fineft monu-> 
ments in the whole world. 

Such are the moft celebrated temples of which 
we have any account. The temple, or rather tow- 
er, of Belus, is unqueftionably the moft remarkable 
for its antiquity, magnificence and fingularity. It 
exifted before the temple of the Egyptian Vulcan, 
of which Herodotus in his defcription fays, that it 
was the work of a great number of kings, and of 
ftich importance, that for a prince to have con- 

ftruded 



460 ORACLES. 

ftructed a fingle portico in the courfe of a long 
reign, was confidered as a great glory. 



OF ORACLES. 

Van dale has written a very learned 
treatife, in which he endeavours to prove, that 
oracles had no other origin than the artifice of 
priefts. Mr. de Fontenelle, with his ufual pene- 
tration, amenity and elegance, has diverted this 
treatife of whatever was foreign to the fubject, or 
too fcientific, and has adapted it to the capacity 
of every defcription of readers. The fyftem of 
Vandaie, and the only origin he has afcribed to 
oracles, being in every refpecl: contrary to the efta- 
blifhed opinion of the church, father Balthus, a 
Jefuit, wrote a fecond treatife, not lefs learned 
than that ofVandale, in which (without denying 
the impofition of the priefts, which was frequently 
intermixed with the oracles) he proves in the 
cleareft and moft convincing manner the inter- 
vention of daemons in thefe predictions, which the 
moft determined incredulity can never attribute to 
artifice alone. Without profoundly inveftigating 
the pretenfions of thefe two opinions, there are 
many reafons which induce us to reject the fyftem 
of Vandale. 

Could oracles, had they been founded only on 
knavery and artifice, have maintained for fo long 
1 a time 



/ 

ORACLESo 461 

% time their credit and reputation ? Impofture muft 
inevitably be difcovered at laftj it is impoflible 
falfehood ihould fupport itfelf for ever § and 
though fome credulous and weak individuals may 
for a time be deceived, yet whole nations cannot, 
for ages together, be the dupes of fraud. The 
power of monarchs, the curiofity of the rich, want 
of difcretion, the treachery of a prieft, the jealoufy 
which muft naturally have fubfifted between thofc 
oracles which were confulted, and thofe which 
feemed neglected, the rigour of fome anfwers, the 
horrid facrifices which were fometimes enjoined, 
.were certainly fufficient, fooner or later, to lead 
to a difcovery of the truth. What then is this 
hitherto unknown combination which fupports 
itfelf in oppofition to felf-intereft, and unites fo 
many impoftors in the religious obfervance of a 
fecret ? Thus much is fufficient to fhow our read- 
ers, that a wife man may believe in the truth of 
fome oracles, without being obliged on that account 
to renounce the ufe of his reafon. We mall content 
ourfelves with thefe reflections, and fhail endeavour 
to trace out which were the firft of thefe oracles. 

Themis, Jupiter and Apollo, alone formerly 
rendered oracles ; but afterwards almoft all the 
gods, and a great many heroes, obtained this 
privilege. All days were not equally proper for 
confulting oracles. At Delphos the prieftefs of 
Apollo only anfwered one month of the year, in 



.4^2 ORACLE OF DODONAi 

the name of that god this was afterwards changed,, 
and anfwers were only returned one ' day in each 
month. Neither were thefe oracles all rendered 
in the fame manner. Sometimes the god himfclf 
gave his refponfes : in fome places thefe anfwers 
were received during fleep, which fleep was pre- 
pared by myfterious ceremonies : in others, lots 
were call, as at Prseriefte, in Italy. Frequently 
to be made worthy of the oracle, fafts, facri- 
fices and expiations were necerTaryj and when 
Alexander went into Lybia, to confult Jupiter 
Ammon, the prieil, immediately on feeing him, 
faluted him fon of Jupiter, to obtain which title 
was the only object of his journey. 

The impoifibility of giving the hiilory of each 
diftinct oracle, determines us only to fpeak of thofe 
which were moft ancient and moil celebrated. 

ORACLE OF DODONA. 

According to the accouut of Herodotus, 
the oracle of Dodona, the moft ancient in Greece, 
and that of Jupiter Ammon in Lybia, had the fame 
origin, and both owed their eftablifhment to the 
Egyptians. This fact, which is recorded in hiftory, 
we mall explain. 

Two doves took their flight from the city of 
Thebes, in Egypt. One went into Lybia, the 

othei 



ORACLE OF DODONA. 463 

other alighted in the foreft of Dodona, fituated in 
Chaonia, a province of Epirns. The former 
announced to the inhabitants, that the great Jupiter 
intended to cftablim an oracle in their c Gentry 
this prodigy at firft excited their aftonifhment, but 
a number of the credulous foon prefented them- 
felves to confult. Thefe two doves, fays Servius, 
were a prefent from Jupiter to his daughter 
Thebe; they had both the gift of fpeech. Hero- 
dotus has examined into the origin of this fiction. 
He fays, that two prieflerTes of Thebes were carried 
off by Phoenician merchants; and that one of them 
was taken into Greece. Chance, or fome other 
caufe, led her to take up her refidence in the foreft 
of Dodona, where men at that time went to collect 
acorns, the food of the ancient Greeks. At the 
foot of an oak me built a little chapel to the ho- 
nour of Jupiter, whofe prieftefs me had been at 
Thebes. Herodotus adds, that they gave the 
name of Peleia to this woman, which fignifies 
dove. At firfl, nobody underftood her language, 
and when at laft they did comprehend her, it was 
pretended that the dove, or Peleia, had fpoken. 
Such was the origin of the famous oracle of Do- 
dona. This account of Herodotus is confirmed 
by Servius, who relates, that in the foreft of Do- 
dona was a fountain which flowed with gentle mur- 
murs, at the foot of an oak ; thefe murmurs a wo- 
man interpreted, and by them gave anfwers to 

thofe 



4^4 ORACLE Ot AMMOI. 

thofe who came to confuk her. In the courfe of* 
time, more artifice was employed in rendering this 
oracle. Some copper cauldrons were Impended 
near a ftatue of the fame metal, which was like- 
wife fufpended, and held a whip in its hand. 
When this figure was fhaken by the wind, it ftruck 
the cauldron which was nearefl to it, and put it in 
motion ; all the others were then likewife agitated, 
and rendered a found which lafted fbme time; 
from this noife it was pretended to form pre- 
dictions of futurity. Wifhing frill more to increafe 
the credit of the oracle, interpreters were concealed 
in hollow oaks, and it was pretended that the oaks 
of the foreft of Dodona likewife rendered oracles. 
The mafl of the fliip Argo, which the Argonauts 
confulted, was taken from this foreft. 



ORACLE OF AMMON. 

The fecond prieflefs, carried off by the 
Phoenicians, was taken into Lybia. This foreigner 
at firft occafioned furprife - 3 the people wifhed to in- 
terrogate her but did not underitand her language ; 
on feeing her praclife fome of the ceremonies of her 
ancient office, they fuppofed her to be fomething 
divine; and probably fhe knew how to avail her- 
felf of the homage which was paid her. Her an- 
fwers foon palled for oracles, and in a fhort time 

her 



ORACLE OF AMMONe 

her reputation became fo great that me was con- 
ful ted by people from all parts, notwithftanding 
the dangers of fo painful a journey. The fcorch- 
ing fands of Lybia were no longer an obftacle 
powerful enough to reftrain the active, reftlefs cu- 
riofity of man> to know his future lot. This wo- 
man was fucceeded by priefts, who undertook the 
charge of rendering oracles. They reprefented 
Jupiter Ammon with the head of a ram, having 
horns. Eighty priefts of this divinity carried his 
ftatue upon their moulders in a Ihip gilt with 
gold ; they took no certain road, but pretended 
that they went as impelled by the god. A numer- 
ous troop of young girls and matrons accompanied 
thefe prieftsi finging hymns in honour of Jupiter, 
The mip was adorned with a great number of filver 
difhes, fufpended on each fide. The priefts an- 
nounced the reiponfes of their Ammon> from fome 
movement or fign of the ftatue. Thefe particulars 
have been tranfmitted to us by Quintus Curtius 
and Diodorus Siculus, The priefts of this god 
fometimes lhowed themfelves fuperior to all cor* 
ruption. Lyfander, wifhing to effect a change in 
the order of fucceflion to the throne of Sparta, 
tried every method of corruption to obtain an 
anfwer favourable to his defigns, but in vain. The 
priefts fent a folemn embaffy to Sparta, and pre-* 
ferred a public accufation againft him. Yet thefe 
fame priefts in fome manner anticipated the vanity 
H h of 



4-66 ORACLE OF DELPHOS. 

of Alexander, by fainting him fon of Jupiter, im- 
mediately on his appearing 3 but Alexander was 
already at the height of his glory, and every thing 
yielded to his power. 

ORACLE OF DELPHOS. 

The oracle of Delphos. was not the mod 
ancient in Greece, but it was the mod celebrated, 
and that Which continued longed. The time of 
its firft eftablifhment is unknown, which is a proof 
of its great antiquity. We have already, under 
the article Diana, mentioned the manner in which 
it was originally difcovered. Apollo v/as not the 
firft that was confulted there i iEfchylus in his tra- 
gedy of the Eumenides, fays, that firft Terra, or 
the Earth, rendered oracles there, then Themis, 
and afterwards Fhcebe, daughter of Terra and 
mother to Latona. This latter transferred her 
rights to her grandfon Apollo, and from that time 
the oracle only gave anfwers in his name. When 
this oracle was firft difcovered, all without diftinc- 
tion might be infpired. The vapour of the cavern 
operated alike on all who inhaled it; but feveral 
of thefe enthufiafts having, in the excefs of their 
frenzy, precipitated themfelves headlong into the 
chafm, means were fought to remedy this accident 
which happened not unfrequently. Over the open- 
ing then they placed a machine which they called 
2 a tripod, 



ORACLE OF DELPHOS. 467 

a tripod, becaufe it was fupported by three bars 
placed upon the rock. In this., which may be called 
a fpecies of chair, a woman placed herfelf and re- 
ceived the exhalations without any rifk. This 
prieftefs was called Pythia, from the ferpent Py- 
thon, (lain by Apollo. Young virgins, chofen 
with the greateft precaution, exercifed this office. 
They were generally taken from fome poor family, 
they mull have lived free from luxury, or an at- 
tachment to finery. The greateft fimplicity and 
ignorance even of every thing, were the titles ge- 
nerally preferred in afpiring to this dignity. It 
was fufficient that the Pythia could repeat what was 
dictated to her by the god. The cuftom of chufmg 
young virgins continued long in practice. It was 
abolifhed in the following manner : The young 
Echecrates, by birth a Theffalian, fmitten with the 
charms of the Pythia carried her off. The people 
of Delphos, to prevent a like attempt, ordered by 
an exprefs law, that for the future none but wo- 
men upwards of fifty years of age mould execute 
this office. 

At firft the number of thefe prieftefTes was con- 
fined to one, but afterwards it was increafed to 
three. Oracles, as we have already faid, were not 
rendered every day. In general, Apollo only in- 
fpired the Pythia in the month Bufion, which was 
in the beginning of fpring. During the reft of 
the year me was forbid, on pain of death, to confuk 

H a 2 the 



ORACLE OF BELPHOS* 

the deity. Alexander,, before he entered on his- 
Afiatic expedition, came to Delphos during 
one of thefe intervals of filence. He deflred 
the Pythia to afcend the tripod, which fhe 
refufed, alledging as an excule, the law by which 
fhe was prevented. Enraged to find himfelf de- 
tained by fuch an obflacle as this, he took the 
prieftefs from her cell by force, and led her to the 
fanctuary, when fhe thought proper to pronounce 
thefe words: cc My fon, thou art invincible." 
Alexander immediately cried out, that he wifhed; 
for no other oracle, and fet out for the conqueft 
of the world. Before the oracle was confulted^ 
feveral facrifices were performed, and always with 
ao air of the greateft myftery; numberlefs pre- 
cautions were like wife taken in chufing the victim* 
inspecting the entrails, and drawing prefages from 
them. The prieftefs prepared herfelf by a fail of 
three days. Before fhe afcended the tripod Hie 
fkft bathed herfelf in the fountain of Caftalia, and 
then chewed fome leaves of laurel which were ga- 
thered near this fountain. Thefe ceremonies 
flnimed, Apollo himfelf gave notice of his arrival' 
in the temple, by a mock which made the build- 
ing tremble to its foundation. The priefts- 
(who were like wife called prophets) then took the 
Pythia, led her to the fanctuary and placed her 
upon the tripod. As foon as Hie began to be 
agitated by the divine vapour, her hair flood erect,, 
3 her 



ORACLE OF DELPHGS. 400 

her look became wild, foam flowed from her 
mouth, and a violent tremor feized her whole 
body. In this condition Ihe made feveral efforts 
to efcape from the prophets who detained her by 
force. Her cries and frightful yells made the 
temple refound, and filled all prefent with an awful 
terror. At laft, unable longer to refill, Ihe yielded 
to the impulfe of the god, and uttered at intervals 
fome broken fentences, which the prophets 
carefully collected, arranged and formed into 
verfes, giving them a connection which they 
had not in the mouth of the prieftefs. As foon 
as the oracle was pronounced, the Pythia was 
taken from the tripod and conducted to her cell, 
where fhe remained, fometimes feveral days, be- 
fore Ihe recovered from the fatigue. Sudden 
death was frequently the reward, or puniihment, of 
her enthufiafm. The Pythia was only the inflru- 
ment employed by the priefts to difcover the de- 
terminations of Apollo. Every other care devolv- 
ed on themfelves. It was they who placed her in 
a pofition to receive the vapour exhaling from the 
chafm over which the tripod flood. They col- 
Jected her exprefiions and gave them to the poets 
(another fort of minifters) who formed them into 
verfe. Thefe verfes were frequently harlli, badly 
made, and always obfeure, which gave occafion to 
the witty remark, that Apollo, for a chief of the 
Mufes, made very bad verfes. Sometimes the 

h k 3 Pythia 



4/0 ORACLE OF TROPHONIUS. 

Pythia herfelf gave her anfwers in verfe ; one m 
particular named Phemonoe. But they afterwards 
were contented to fpeak in profe, and Plutarch 
mentions this as one reafon of the decline of 
oracles. 

ORACLE OF TROPHONIUS. 

Though Trophonius . was only a hero, 
and even according to fome authors a robber, he 
had a very famous oracle in Bceotia. Paufanias, 
who went through all the ceremonies which were 
required preparatory to confulting this oracle, 
gives no account of the life of Trophonius he 
only fays, fC That the earth having opened under his 
feet, he was fwallowed up in the place which is ftill 
called the grave of Agamedes, and is ftill to be 
feen in a facred wood of Lebadia with a pillar 
erected over it. Lebadia, fays Paufanias, is one 
of the fineft cities of Greece. Near it is a facred 
wood, in which ftand the temple and ftatue of 
Trophonius ; both the work of Praxiteles. When 
any come to confult this oracle, before they de- 
fcend into the cavern where the refponfes are 
given, it is necefiary to pafs fome days in a cha- 
pel dedicated to the good Genius and to Fortune. 
This time is employed in purifying themfelves. 
They are permitted to wafn no where but in the 
cold waters of the river Hercinus. 

" They 



ORACLE OF TROPHONIUS. 47I 

cc They then facrifice to Trophonius, to his fa- 
mily, to king Jupiter, to Saturn, and to Ceres 
Europa, nurfe of Trophonius. After the fe pre- 
parations, the ftatue of Trophonius is fhewn to 
them, they are decked with facred fillets, and 
then conducted to the Oracle. They afcend 
a mountain,, on the fummit of which is an enclo- 
fure formed with white ftones, having within it 
obelilks of brafs. In this enclofure is a cavern 
hewn by the art of man, having the form of an 
oven, and here is a narrow hole into which they 
ilowly defcend by means of fmall ladders. They- 
now arrive at a fecond cavern, when they are 
obliged to lie flat on the ground, holding in each 
hand a compofition of honey, which it is necef-' 
fary to carry ; in this pofition their feet are parTed 
into the fecond cavern, and they are immediately 
hurried along with great violence and precipita- 
tion. It was. there they received the anfwer of 
the oracle, but not all in the fame manner ; fome 
heard, and others faw. They left this cave in 
the fame manner they had entered it, by lying 
on the ground, and going out feet forerhoft. Im- 
mediately after they were placed in the chair of 
Mnemofine, and interrogated concerning what 
they had feen. Giddy and confufed, they were 
led back to the chapel of the good Genius, 
where they were fuffered to recover their fenfes * 
^ h 4 they 



ORACLE OF TROPHONIUS* 

they then wrote upon a tablet what they had feera 
or heard; and this was interpreted by the priefts/* 
Paufanias adds, cc That a man once entered this 
cave , but never came out again/' He was a fpy of 
Demetrius, fent to examine if this place did not 
contain hidden treafures. His body was found 
at a great diftance from the place. It is proba- 
ble that the priefts, being informed of his deftgn, 
maflacred him, and carried out the body by the 
feeret paffage which they themfelves made ufe of 
to enter. Paufanias pofitively fays, to be certain 
of the truth, I have myfelf defcended into the 
cavern, and confulted the oracle. It is not known 
at what time the oracle of Trophonius was efta- 
blifhed. Paufanias only fays, that Bceotia being 
laid wafte- by a great drought, the inhabitants fent 
to eonfuk the oracle at Delphos, by which they 
were told, that they muft have recourfe to Tro~ 
phonius, whom they would find in Lebadia. The 
deputies obeyed, and Saon, the moft aged of them, 
having perceived a fwarm of bees fly towards 3 
cave, followed them, and thus difcovered the ora- 
cle, Trophonius, Paufanias fays, himfelf pre- 
fcribed the worfhip he wimed to have. It appears 
from this, that Saon firft inftituted this oracle, 
and that he took advantage of the public calamity 
with which his country was vifited, and the an- 
fwer of the priefcefs to obtain the general confi- 
dence 

OF 



QTHS* ORACLES* 



473 



OI OTHER ORACLES. 

W? have now given an account of the 
mcft celebrated oracles. To name ail would 
be impofTible. In Bceotia alone, which was a 
fmall province, they counted no lefs than twenty- 
five. It is true, this country was covered with 
woods and mountains, places extremely proper, 
fays Mr. de Fontenelle, for the mylterious ceremo- 
nies of thefe inflitutions. Almoft all the gods and 
the greater part of the demi-gods and heroes, had 
their oracles. However no divinity had fo many 
as Apollo. All oracles were not of equal anti- 
quity ; every day produced new ones, while the 
eld grew into difrepute. Frequently they were 
pillaged. That of Delphos particularly was feve- 
ral times plundered ; firft by the Phoceans, then 
by Pyrrhus, afterwards by Nero, and laftly by 
the Chriftians. The triumph of the Chriltian relU 
gion over idolatry produced the downfal of 
oracles, and in the caverns and fubterraneous places 
where they were given, were found evident marks 
of the impoftures of the priefts. We fhall now 
give a few of the remarkable anfwers of thefe 
oracles. 

Crcefus, difpleafed with the oracle of Delphos, 
though he had loaded it with prefents, wifhed to 
take it by fiirpriie : he lent to demand of the 

Pythia^ 



474 OTHER ORACLES. 

Pythii, what he was doing at the moment his 
mefFenger was coniulting her. She immediately 
anfwered, that, by his orders, a di£h was prepa- 
ring, compofed of a lamb and a tortoile, which 
was exactly true. Crcefus had imagined this lin- 
gular composition, in hopes of confounding her, 
but this anfwer removed all his doubts, and his 
prefents became more numerous than before. 

A governor of Cilicia, fays Plutarch, wifhed to 
fend a fpy among the gods. He gave his e miliary 
a note, well fealed, to carry to Malles, where was 
the oracle of Mopfus. This meflenger paffing 
the night in the temple, faw a man, who laid to 
him clcck. He carried back this anfwer, which 
at firfl: appeared ridiculous, but the governor 
having broken open the letter, fhowed them that 
he had written, cc Shall I facrifice to thee a black 
or a white bull r" 

A prieftefs of Dodcna returned an anfwer which 
proved fatal to herielf. The Boeotians coming to 
confulther, fne faid to them, cc You will be victo- 
rious if you act with impiety." The deputies 
immediately feized her, and burnt her alive, fay- 
ing, if fhe had deceived them they would take 
this method of puniihing her, and if what fhe 
had (aid was true, they would by this means fe- 
cure to themfeives victory. Thefe deputies were 
arretted, but they dared not punifh them without 
a legal trial ; two pricfteffes and two men were 

their 



SYBILS. 47 5 

their judges i the former wifhed to condemn 
them, but the latter were of a different opinion, 
and they were acquitted. 

OF THE SYBILS. 

The ancients gave the name of Sybil to 
a certain number of young females, whom they 
fuppofed endowed with the gift of prophecy. 
The learned are not agreed as to the origin of this 
name ; they are in doubt whether it is Hebrew, 
African or Greek : but the greater number think 
it of Greek derivation, and that it fignines in- 
fpired. All antiquity unites in attefting the ex- 
iftence of the Sybils. There are different opi- 
nions concerning their number, country, names, 
and the times when they lived ; but even this dif- 
ference of opinion proves the reality of their 
having exifted. 

Varro, the moft learned of the Romans, rec- 
kons ten Sybils, and quotes the authors by whom 
they are mentioned. His opinion then we fhall 
follow, andobferve the order which he has adopted 
in his account of them. 

1. The Perfian. She was called Sambethe, 
and in the Sybilline verfes attributed to her, fhe 
ftyles herfelf daughter-in-law to Noah. 

2. The Lybian, faid to be the daughter of 

Jupiter, 



4/6 SYBILS. 

Jupiter and Lamia. She vifited Clares, Delphos, 
Samcs, -and feveral other countries. 

3. The Delphian, daughter of Tire fi as. After 
the capture of Thebes, me was by the Epigoni, 
appointed prieflefs to the temple at Delphos. 
Diodorus fays, that Ihe was frequently feized with 
a divine enthufiafm, which procured her the name 
of Sybil. 

4. The Sybil of Cumas or the Cumean, who was 
the moft celebrated of all. A learned modern, Mr. 
]?etit 3 thinks fne was the only one that ever exifted, 
and fupports his opinion, by faying, cc That all the 
verfes of the Sybils were written in Greek, which 
could not have happened, if the Sybils had been of 
different countries. " Mr. Petit thinks, that this 
myfleiious female travelled much, and that this 
gave rife to the opinion, that there were feveral 
who refided in different countries. This obferva- 
tion however of Mr. Petit, cannot invalidate the 
opinion of the ancients, and particularly that of 
Varro, In the firft place there is no proof that all 
the Sybils fpoke Greek i and in the fecond it may 
reafonably be luppofed, that the productions of 
thefe females which were collected with as much 
care as" the oracles of the Pythia, might have been 
tranfiated into Greek. However that may be, the 
following account is what we learn from hiitory 
concerning this Sybil. Her name was Peiphobe. 
She was daughter to Glaucus and prieftefs of 

Apollo, 



SYBILS, 47^ 

Apollo. This god wifhed to gain her affections, 
and promifed her whatever me mould demand. 
Her requeft was, that her years might be as many 
as the grains of fand which me then held in her 
hand, but me unfortunately forgot at the fame time 
to afk the perpetual bloom of youth. Even this, how- 
ever, Apollo offered if fhe would crown his willies ; 
butDeiphobe preferred the glory of eternal chaftity 
to the pleafures of eternal youth ; fo that the prime 
and vigour of life were fucceeded by forrowfol 
enfeebled old age, and in the time of .ffineas, by her 
own account, me had already lived feven hundred 
years. Three hundred more remained to be fpent, 
when her body being conlumed by time, nothing 
would remain of her but the voice, which by fate 
Hie would retain for ever. This fable is founded 
upon the long life which was attributed to the Sy- 
bils. That of Cumse, who wasfuppofed to be in- 
fpired by Apollo, rendered oracles from the bot- 
tom of a cavern placed in the temple of that 
god. This cavern had an hundred doors, whence 
iffued as many terrible voices, announcing the an- 
fwers of this prophetefs. She was likewife prieft- 
efs of Hecate, and the facred wood of Avernus was 
committed to her care. The verfes of this Sybil 
were carefully preferved by the Romans, and kept 
under the greater!: fecrefy. A college compofed of 
fifteen members, called the Qumdecemviri of the 
Sybils, were entrufted with the charge of this coU 

lection. 



478 



SYBILS* 



lection. Such implicit faith had they in the pre- 
dictions of the Sybils., that they engaged in no con- 
fiderable war without confulting them. In times 
of fedition, or any public calamity, fuch as a defeat, 
a peftilence, or a famine, recourfe was always had 
to the Sybillkie verfes j| they were perpetual oracles, 
as frequently confulted by the Romans, as that of 
Delphos was by the Greeks. With refpect to the 
other oracles of the Sybils, which had been collected, 
they were made fubfervient to the purpofes of po- 
licy and ambition. Julius Csefar, perpetual dicta- 
tor, and abfoiute mailer of Rome, wifhed to give 
greater luftre to his power, by caufing himfelf to be 
proclaimed king. His partizans promulgated a 
Sybilline oracle, by which it was pretended, that 
the Parthians could never be reduced but by a mo- 
narch. The Roman people were in confequence 
preparing to grant him this title, and the decree 
was to have pafTed the fenate, the very day he was 
aflaffinated. 

The Romans erected a temple to the Cumean 
Sybil, and honoured her as a divinity in the fame 
place where fhe had delivered her oracles. 

5. The fifth Sybil was the Erythraean, "or Ery- 
thrsa, who predicted the fuccefs of the Trojan 
war, at the time the Greeks were embarking for 
that expedition. 

6. The Samian, or that of Samos, whofe prophe- 
cies are preferved in the annals of the Samians. 

7. The 



sybils. 479 

7. The Cumean, born at Cuma, a city of JEolis. 
She was called Demophile, or Herophile, and 
fometimes even Amalthea. It was fhe who fold 
the collection of Sybilline verfes to Tarquin the 
Elder. This collection confided of nine books, 
for which Herophile afked three hundred pieces 
of golds being refufed this fum, fhe threw three 
of them into the fire, and flill continued to demand 
the fame price : Tarquin hefitating, fhe immedi- 
ately burnt three more, and perfiited in demand- 
ing the three hundred pieces of gold for thofe 
which remained. Finding her inflexible, and fearing 
fhe would deftroy them alfo, he at laft granted her 
the fum fhe required. When this king had gained 
pofTeffion of the books, he confided them to the 
care of two particular prieits, called duumviri, 
. whofe whole employment was to watch over this 
facred truft. The celebration of centennial games 
was afterwards annexed to this office. Thefe 
books, as we have faid, were confulted in time of 
any great public calamity, but by a decree of the 
fenate only, without which, the duumviri could 
not, under pain of death, permit any perfon to in- 
fpectthem. 

This firft collection of Sybilline oracles perilhed 
in the fire which confumed the capitol when Sylla 
was dictator. The Senate, to repair this lofs, 
fent to Samos, to Erythrasa, and into Greece and 
Afia, in quefl of Sybilline verfes. Thefe, when 

collected, 



48o- ' SYBILS. 

collected, were depofited in the capitolj but as 
many parts of them were apocryphal, the confi- 
dence in them was not fo great as in the former* 
It was to take charge of theie that the college of 
quindecemviri was inftituted. 

The fate of this fecond collection is unknown. 
There remains a third, which confifts of eight 
books. It contains many of the ancient predic- 
tions, but all critics regard it as an abfurd medley, 
to which no confidence can be given* We find in 
it the myfteries of the redemption, the miracles, 
. paffion, and death of our Saviour, the creation of 
the world, and of terreftrial paradife, In thefe 
verfes the Sybil, after having fpoken the language of 
Ifaiah and the evangelifts, talks of her gallantries 
with Apollo. She mentions Lot, and calls' herfelf 
a Chriftian. She recommends the worfnip of falfe 
gods ; orders the facrifice of human victims ; and 
afterwards predicts the misfortunes with which the 
Romans are threatened, if they do not abandon 
idolatrous worfhip, and embrace the Chriftian faith. 
Every thing concurs to prove, that this third col* 
lection was not the work of the Sybils, but an ab- 
furd compofition formed by a miftaken and grofsly* 
ignorant devotion. 

8. The Hellefpontine Sybil, born at Marpefia in 
the country of Troas, She prophefied in the time of 
Solon and Crcefus, 

q, ffa* 



GAMES, 481 

9. The Phrygian, who refided at Ancyra, and 
there rendered oracles. 

10. That of Tibur called Albunea, at the town 
of Tibur, or Tivoli, on the Teverone, where me was 
honoured as a divinity* 

It was generally believed that Sybils were beings 
of a nature between gods and mortals* 

The refpect in which their verfes were held, 
continued a long while under the reign of the em- 
perors. The fenate having, in the time of Theo- 
dofius, embraced chriftianity, the veneration for 
thefe became much diminiihed, and Stilicho, under 
the reign o£ Honorius, at lad caufed them to be 
burnt* 

OF GAMES. 

Games were almoft always infHtuted from 
religious motives j they were at the fame time a 
fort of public amufement among the Greeks and 
Romans. Of thefe games and exercifes three prin- 
cipally engaged the attention of the Romans 5 races* 
combats, and theatrical reprefentations. The firft, 
called equeftrian or Curule games, confifted in 
races, which were run in the circus, dedicated to 
Neptune, or to the fun. The fecond, called Ago- 
nales, confuted in wreftling, or in combats, between 
men, and fometimes between animals trained up 

Ii * for 



482 GAMES, 

for that purpofe. Thefe were exhibited in, rite 
Amphitheatre, confecrated to Mars and Diana. 

The laft were the theatrical performances con- 
filling of tragedies, comedies, and fatires, which 
were reprefented upon the ftage in honour of 
Bacchus, Venus, and Apollo. 

The moft celebrated of the Grecian games were 
the Olympian, the Pythian, the Nemean, and the . 
Ifthmian. They were inftituted to honour the 
gods, to commemorate great events, and to accuf- 
tom youth to bodily exercifes. Thefe games were 
divided into the following courles : firft, mufic and 
finging : fecondly, the chariot and foot races ; the 
foot firft and the chariot after : thirdly, leaping 
and the difcus ; (this was a heavy ftone, which 
they contended in throwing farther!::) fourthly^ 
wreftling, which confided in exerting all their 
ftrength to caft each other to the ground j the 
combatants were naked, their bodies rubbed 
with oil, and covered with a fine duft to prevent 
perfpiration : fifthly, the ceftus, or boxing, in 
which the hands were provided with thick thongs 
from a bullock's hide, and a fpecies of defence 
for the arms, called ceftus. 

We have already given an account of the origin 
of the Olympic games, the epoch when they 
were inftituted, and that when they were revived. 
They began with a folemn facrifice, and were re- 
ported to from all parts of Greece. The conque- 
rors 



GAMES. 483 

roi s were proclaimed aloud by an herald, and ce- 
lebrated with fongs of vi&ory. They wore a tri- 
umphal crown, and had the firfb place in all affem- 
blies. They received rich pfefents from their city* 
and were ever after entertained at the public expence. 

The firfl who came off victorious in the race* was 
Chocerbus, a native of Elis. Cynifca^ daughter of 
king Archidamas, was the firft of her fex who gained 
the prize for chariots with four wheels ; this was at 
the celebration of the fixteenth Olympiad, and from 
that time ladies were permitted to aftift at thefe 
games. Before CynifcaorCynifea, women could not 
approach the place where thefe games were celebrat- 
ing. Had they ralhly attempted to intrude themfelves 
they would have been precipitated from the top of 
mount Typeum; and to avoid all furprife the 
combatants were naked 1 this ciiftom was adopted 
becaufe Callipatira, after the death of heir hufband, 
dreffed herfelf like amafter of exercife, and led her 
fon Pifidorus to the Olympic games. The young 
man being declared vidtor, his mother leaped over 
the barrier, and ran to clarp him in her arms, 
calling him her fon. In confideration of her father, 
brothers, and fon, who had all beeri crowned at 
thefe games, me was pardoned this infraction of 
the law, but from that time thefe mafters, like the 
combatants, were obliged to appear naked. The 
Judges who prefided z% the games were called 
Hellanodices or Grecian Judges. From their deci- 

1 1 % fi©n 



4$4 GAMES. 

fion was no appeal. There were originally only two" 
of them, but to render the means of corrupting 
them more difficult, their number was afterwards 
increafed to ten. The prodigious concourfe of 
people, which by the celebration of thefe games 
were drawn to Olympia, had enriched that city and 
all Elis. It was likewife one of the principal caufes 
of the great riches and magnificence of the temple 
of Jupiter Olympus. Round this temple ftood a fa- 
cred wood called Altis, in which were the ftatues 
erected in honour of thofe* who had gained the 
prizes at thefe games, all executed by the moil emi- 
nent fculptors of Greece. The odes of Pindar 
which have come to our hands, immortalize thofe 
who in his time were triumphant in the four moft 
folemn games of the Greeks ; the Olympian, the 
liihmian, the Pythian, and the Nemean. The 
height of glory and honour was to be celebrated by 
Pindar. u His genius (fays Bacon,) was an imperial 
fceptre, with which he fubdued and aftonifhed the 
human mind/ 5 

The, defendants of Helenus were fo numerous," 
and became fo powerful in Greece, that they 
procured a law, by which it was enacted, that 
all who prefented themfelves to contend in the 
Olympic games Hiould prove themfelves con- 
nected with this family by ties of blood, before 
they could be admitted. Alexander himfelf was 
forced to prove his defeat? from the Heleni* before 

he 



RELIGION OF THE FIRST INHABITANTS, &C. 485 

he was received into the lifts at thefe games. All 
the families in Greece on this account pretended to 
be defcended from the Heleni, and this name 
which originally was particular to a fingle tribe, 
now became the common name of all the Greeks. 



AN ENQUIRY INTO THE RELIGION OF THE 
FIRST INHABITANTS OF GREAT BRITAIN. 

In the infancy of ftates, as in the infancy 
of man, illuftrious actions are always rare. It is 
not till after the lapfe of ages that the arts and 
fciences attain any degree of perfection. It is the 
fame with hiftorians, they are only to be found in 
civilized nations ; and if fome facts have reached 
us which took place in the firft ages of the world, 
they are generally exaggerated, or disfigured by 
uncertain traditions. 

We have already obferved, that every people 
afTumed for their founder fome imaginary god or 
hero. We have feen the Greeks endeavouring to 
throw a veil over their origin, whilft even their 
fables (thofe incoherent compounds of their me- 
mory and imagination) became evidences in favour 
of truth. The name of a god, of a city, of a 
country, of a mountain, of a cuftom which they 
were ignorant of before, and which they were 
obliged to exprefs 'by fome foreign appellation, 
arc the veftiges which Truth leaves behind her, 

1 1 3 and 



4^5 RELIGION OF THE FIRST INHABITANTS 

and which all the efforts of vanity and felf love pasf 
never totally efface. 

In the general picture which we have endea- 
voured to draw, for the purpofe of explaining the 
origin of idolatry and mythology in general, it 
may be perceived that the eaftern nations were 
the firft who peopled the earth. The more atten- 
tively we examine hiftory, the more convinced 
we become, that thefe rich and beautiful countries 
were the original feats of our forefathers, and the 
brilliant centre from whence the arts and fcience? 
were diffufed over the reft of the globe. It would 
Ipt much more difficult, and perhaps even impoffi- 
ble, to tell at what time and in what manner the 
Britifh ifles were firft inhabited. The ftudy pf 
natural hiftory inclines us to believe, that they 
conftituted formerly part of the continent of Eu- 
rope, but neither tradition nor any human record 
can give us the leaft information concerning the 
period of this feparation. It is fufncient to extencj 
our remarks to thofe ages of which we have fome. 
knowledge, without ufelefsly and prefumptuoufly 
lofing purfelyes in the epochs of Imagination. In 
vain does human yanity attempt to give greater 
antiquity to time, its longeft periods will be no 
more than an imperceptible point in the midft of 
that eternity which precedes and will follow them. 
Without pretending to fix the exact time when 
England was firft peopled^ we may with probability 

fuppofe 



OF GREAT BRITAIN", 487 

fuppofe that the different countries of the Gauls 
were inhabited before that period. It is natural 
to imagine that men would not venture to crofs the 
fea, and take up their refidence in iflands, till com- 
pelled by the too great increafe of population. 
We know that the Celts were mafters of Europe, 
from the mouth of the Oby in Ruflia, to Cape 
Finifterre. The fame language fpoken by nations 
feparated from each other by immenfe tra&s of 
land is Sufficient proof of this, but it throws no 
light upon the beginning of their hiflory. 

The moft famous of all the Celtic nations were 
thofe who inhabited the countries of Gaul, and it 
is to the hiftorians of the nations with whom they 
were engaged in frequent wars, that they are in- 
debted for their celebrity. Julius Caefar and 
Tacitus fay, that Great-Britain was the firft coun- 
try peopled -by the Celtic Gauls. The fituation or 
the re fpe olive places renders this opinion probable, 
and the conformity of language and cuftoms which 
exifted between the Britons and the Gauls, leaves 
no doubt concerning this origin. It may be fup- 
pofed, that the Gaulifh colony firft fettled in that 
part of the ifland which was oppofite to their own 
country, from whence extending themfelves by 
degrees, they afterwards peopled the whole ifland. 
Whatever be the origin of the inhabitants of Great 
Britain, they were fufficiently numerous, and es- 
pecially Sufficiently courageous to refift the Ro- 

1 1 4 mans ^ 



488 RELIGION OF THE FIRST INHABITANTS 

mans, when m afters of the whole known world 
befides. Their government was at that time a 
mixture of monarchy and ariftocracy. The chiefs 
fuperintended the execution of the laws, but the 
legiflative power was lodged in the hands of the 
druids. Thefe priefts, fo celebrated for their own 
divinations, and that of their 1 wives, for their pre- 
tended intercourfe with heaven, and for their man- 
ner of living, which was folitary and auftere, were 
regarded by the people as the infallible organs of 
the Divinity. It was by the command of thefe 
fovereign pontiffs that the people united under one 
chief, whofe office, like that of the Roman dictator, 
lafted no longer than was neceffary to repel danger 
or terminate a war. 

The druids preferved this extenfive authority a 
long time among the Celts, particularly in Great 
Britain, but after the fecond century their credit 
declined fair. Wars became frequent, and the 
nobility carried away by their impetuous. courage, 
were no longer folicitous to enter into this order. 
The number of priefts diminilhed, and precepts of 
religion were quickly corrupted, or nearly forgot- 
ten in the tumults of a camp. Victory, by favour^ 
ing thofe chiefs, who were called Vergobrets (a 
title equal to that of king) rendered them more 
independent of the druids, 

Tremnor, great grandfather of the celebrated 
Fingai, having been elected vergobret by the vie- 
I torious, 



OF &REAT BRITAIN. 489 

torious tribes which he had led to battle, the druids 
fent a deputation to him, defiring him to lay down 
his authority. A refufal on the part of Tremnor 
brought on a civil war, in which a great number of 
the druids perifhed. 

* Thofe who efcaped the daughter,- fled and con- 
cealed themfelves in the depth* of the forefts and 
in caverns, where they ufed to retire to purfue their 
meditations, and the vergobrets, or kings, then 
took the whole authority into their own hands. 
However, the kings and heads of tribes to give 
liability to their power, to fhow their refpeft for 
religion, and to have fome to celebrate their ex- 
ploits, recalled the bards from their folitary retreat. 
The office of the inferior clafs of druids was to 
fmg the praifes of gods and heroes. Conquerors, 
emulous of immortalizing their names, {pared thefe 
difpenfers of glory, invited them to their camp, 
and gratitude animating the poetry of the bards, 
they defcribed their protectors as heroes poflefTed 
of every virtue. Thefe difciples of the druids 
were admitted to the fcience and myfberies of their 
preceptors. Their talents and knowledge gave 
them a fuperiority over the vulgar. They em- 
ployed their poetical abilities in defcribing every 
virtue and every heroic fentiment. Kings eagerly 
endeavoured to imitate the heroes of their favourite 
poems- chieftains of tribes ftrove to follow their 
example 5 and this noble emulation being commu- 
nicated 



4$Q RELIGION OF THE FIRST INHABITANTS 

nicated throughout the whole nation, formed that 
general character of the inhabitants of Great Britain, 
who, to the noble courage which dignifies a free 1 
nation, have ever united the moft engaging virtue* 
of civilized fociety. 

The glory of a great people roufes the genius 
of the man porTeffed by nature of fenfibility and a 
lively imagination ; he burns with a defire of im- 
mortalizing his country. Common language ap- 
pears unequal to the actions he means to celebrate; 
metre and harmony he knows will more eafily 
imprefs his fubjecl upon the memory. This un- 
doubtedly gave rife to poetry in every nations and 
this art cpnftituted part of the religion of the druids. 
The cufbpm, common to every nation, of repeat- 
ing hiftorical poems on folernn occafions, and of 
teaching rhem to their children, was fufficient to 
preferve them for a long time without the affiftance 
of writing. The Germans have tranfmitted thefe 
poetical traditions for eight hundred years 5 it is 
not aftonifhing then, that the inhabitants of Great 
Britain, ever fo much^ attached to the memory of 
their anceftors, fhould have handed down from 
generation to generation the poems of their bards* 
It was this cuftom, preferved among the mcft 
diftant inhabitants of the mountains, which enabled 
Mr. Macpherfon to collect the poetry of the cele«» 
brated Oflian. 

The bards, after having long been the principal 

inftructors 



CF GREAT BRITAIN. 49 £ 

liiftruclors and hiftorians of their country, defend- 
ed from thefe high fun6tions to become the 
flatterers of thofe who prorecled' them, or the 
flanderers of thofe whom they regarded as their, 
enemies. 

Little pamons have always the pernicious pro- 
perty of mifleading and even extinguifhing genius. 

The bards, in forgetting the noble infpirations of 
their predecefTors, retained no other power than 
that of amufing or flattering the vain. They foon 
loft all their importance with the great, and the 
multitude alone deigned to receive them favourably. 

No longer pofTerTed of the talent which renders 
virtue engaging, they invented fables of enchanted 
caftles, of dwarfs, giants, &c. The fober truths 
of hiftory gave place to the marvellous fictions of 
romance. The abufe of this talent brought the 
bards into contempt; the people themfelves grew 
weary of them and they difappeared. The warlike 
hero, however, was not forgetful of his valour, he 
would not renounce the flattering advantage, of 
hearing the celebration of his exploits. Courage, 
and the noble defire of fuccouring the opprefTed, 
and redrefling their wrongs, produced that fpirit 
of chivalry which gave birth to prodigies of hero- 
ifm. Illuftrious actions awakened the genius of 
a clafs of men who came to replace the bards, under 
the name of Troubadours. This appears to be 
|he period from which we muft date the com- 
mence- 



RELIGION OF THE FIRST INHABITANTS, &C. 

rnencement oT thofe books of chivalry fo extraor- 
dinary and yet fo full of charms, that even now 
they excite our admiration. In reading them it is 
neceffary to recoiled, that to pleafe they muft: 
poffefs probability, for it is only by imitating na- 
ture that art can pleafe. What idea then ought » 
we to entertain of thofe knights they were intended 
to defcribe ? In the romance of the round table, 
of St. Greal, of Amadis, &c. reafon will ever 
teach us to refcind what appears to be merely mar- - 
vellous, but the noble and the brave will never call 
In queftion the prodigies atchieved by valour. It 
is remarkable that England is generally made the 
theatre of chivalry by the Troubadours, and ancient 
writers of that defcription. We muft likewife 
take notice that ail hiftorians, after defcribing the 
druids as priefts much fuperior to thofe of all other 
nations, agree in giving the druids of England a 
fuperiority over all others. They extol thofe of 
the college of Chartres, thofe of the foreft of Mar- 
feiiles, thofe in the environs of Thouloufe, but 
they all add, that when any in thefe colleges were 
found to poffefs great talents, they were fent to 
finilh their inftrudtion among the druids of Britain. 
The refult of thefe obfervations is, that from the 
mofc diftant periods, the inhabitants of Great Bri- 
tain have ever excited the admiration of furround- 
ing nations, by their wifdom,. learning and courage. 



RELIGIOUS 



SLSLIGIOUS CI-INI0N3, &C, 



493 



RELIGIOUS OPINIONS of the FIRST INHABI- 
TANTS of GREAT BRITAIN. 

It appears certain that the original Bri- 
tons erected no temple to the Divinity. Nay we 
find in the poems of Oflian, that fublime bard ex- 
preffing his contempt for the temples and worfhip 
of Odin, god of the Scandinavians, whom he calls 
Loda. Ofiian*reprefents thefe people as invoking 
their god round a ftatue, which he calls the Hone 
of power. He reprobates this wormip, and con- 
fiders it as impious. The druids, bards, and the 
people whom they inflrucled, regarded all nature 
as the temple of the divinity. That they had 
notions of a Supreme Being cannot be doubted, 
fince they believed in the immortality of the foul, 
and in the rewards and punimments of a future 
life. Their opinion was, that the clouds were the 
habitation of fouls after their feparation from the 
body. The brave and virtuous were received 
with joy into the aerial palaces of their fathers, 
whilft the wicked, the cowardly and the cruel, 
were excluded the abode of heroes, and con- 
demned to wander, the fport of every wind, 
There were different manfions in the palaces of 
the clouds; the principal of which were afligned 
to merit and courage ; and this idea was a great 
incitement to the emulation of their warriors. The 

foul 



V 



4§4 KELIGIOUS OPINIONS OF 

foul always preferved the fame paflions which it 
poifeffed during life j thefe aerial palaces offered 
no other enjoyment than what they had preferred 
when living. They fuppofed that winds and ftorms 
were under the direction of departed fpirits, but 
their power never extended over men* A hero 
could not be admitted into the palace of his fathers, 
unlefs the bards had fun g his funeral hymn. This 
hymn appears to have been the only effential cere- 
mony of their funerals. The body was extended 
on a bed. of clay, at the bottom of a grave fix or 
eight feet deep. At the head of a warrior they 
placed his fword and twelve arrows $ the corpfe 
was covered with a fecond body of clay, and upon 
this they laid the horns of a flag, or fome other 
wild beaft. Sometimes they killed his favourite 
dog, to lay on this fecond body of clay j the whole 
was then covered with fine mould, and four ftones 
marked the extent of the tomb. 

None but a bard could open the gates of the 
aerial palaces, which he did by chanting the funeral 
hymn. Neglect of this ceremony left the foul in 
the exhalations of the lake Lego, or fome other, 
and to thefe unhappy fouls they attributed the dif* 
orders arifing from the vapour of lakes or marfhes, 
which are fo frequent and fometimes even mortal. 
We may fee with what care the druids encouraged 
opinions which rendered their miniftry fo confoling 
and fo neceffary. Death was not fuppofed to have 
3 



THE FIRST BRITOKS. 4c 

the power of diflblving the ties of blood. The 
fliades of the dead took part in the happy or un- 
fortunate events of their friends. No nation had 
fo implicit a belief in apparitions. The moun- 
taineers, in particular, feeming to take pleafure in 
their gloomy ideas, frequently pafTed whole nights 
upon a heath the whittling of the wind, or the 
noife of torrents, made them imagine they heard 
the voice of the dead, and if furprifed by fleep in 
the midft of thefe reveries, they regarded their 
dreams as certain prognoftics of futurity. Good 
and bad fpirits did not appear in the fame manner, 
the good fhowed themfelves to. their friends during 
the day in retired pleafant valleys, the bad were 
never feen but at night in the midft of winds and 
tempefts. Neither did death deftroy the charms 
of the fair. The lhades of thefe preferved their 
original form and beauty. No terror accompanied 
them ; when they traverfed the air, all their motions 
were graceful, and the gentle noife of their ap- 
proach had fomething in it pleafing and encourag- 
ing. At the moment of executing any great 
cnterprize, they imagined that the fouls of their 
fathers defcended from the clouds to foretel their 
good or ill fuccefs : and when they did not appear^ 
gave them notice at leaft by fome omen. Every- 
man thought he had his tutelar fhade, who always 
attended him. When death approached, this guar- 
dian fpirit mowed itfelf to him in the pofition in 

which. 



RELIGIOUS OPINIONS OF 

which he was to die, and fent forth plaintive cnV& 
of forrow. On the death of a great perfonage, they 
were perfuaded that the fouls of departed bards 
fung round his phantom during three whole nights. 
It was a received opinion among them, that the 
moment a warrior ceafed to exinV the arms in his 
houfe were covered with blood $ that his fpectre 
went to vifit the place of his birth, and that it ap* 
peared to his dogs, which fet up difmal yells at the 
fight of it* 

It was to thefe fpirits they attributed the major 
part of natural effects. If echo ftruck the ear, it 
was the fpirit of the mountain they heard. The 
hollow found of the temped, was the roaring of 
the fpirit of the hill. Did the harp of a bard re- 
ceive a vibration from the wind, it was the mades* 
who by this gentle touch announced the death of 
fome diftinguifhed character. No king nor chief 
refigned his breath, but this prophetic found was 
rendered by the harps of the bards belonging to 
his family. We feel how confoling it muft have 
appeared to people all nature with the ihades of 
their friends and anceftors, by whom they fuppofed 
themfelves conftantly furrounded* Notwithftand* 
ing all the melancholy which muft accompany 
fuch an idea, we are fenfible how interefcing and 
pleafing it muft have been. < 

It was fufhcient to engage and fill the imagina- 
tion j and it is undoubtedly to this caufe we muft 

attrU 



THE FIRST BRITONS. 497 

attribute the fmall number of divinities which were 
honoured among the ancient Britons ; it appears 
even certain that they only acquired a knowledge 
of Elus, Dis, Pluto, Samothes, Teutates and other 
deities, by means of their intercourfe with foreign 
nations. The Picts and Saxons introduced arnona: 
them their Andate, goddefs of victory. The 
Romans likewife made them acquainted with fome 
of their divinities. 

We are afTured by Tacitus and Dion Caflius, 
that the Gauls firft brought into England the hor- 
rid cuftom of facrincing human victims. By ex~ 
tending our refearches farther, we might difcover 
likewife veftiges of the Phoenician worihip; for 
every thing leads us to conclude, that in the ear- 
lien: ages of the world,„ thefe firfb of navigators 
known brought their merchandize into Britain, 
which they exchanged for tin. But we mall enter 
no farther into particulars concerning thofe reli- 
gious ceremonies which they derived from foreign 
nations, fince every hiftory, tradition and cuftorn 
proves, in the moft convincing manner, that the 
religion of the Druids alone was univerfally adopted. 

We mail now lay before our readers the moft 
authentic information concerning thefe celebrated 
men, which we can colled from hiftory or tradition. 



Kk OF 



49* 



THE DRUIDS* 



OF THE DRUIDS. 

The accounts of Caefar and Tacitus con- 
tradict each other the former faying, that the 
religion of the Druids had its birth in England; and 
the latter, that the Gauls when they peopled this 
ifland introduced it amongft them. cc To reconcile 
thefe two authors (fays the Abbe Banier) we 
may fuppofe, that the Gauls when they came into 
Britain brought with them their religion, but that 
the iflanders, more iludious and lefs engaged in 
foreign wars than the Gauls were, preferred it 
in its greater!: purity; this (he adds) was the 
reafon of that profound refpe£l in which the 
Druids of Gaul held thofe of Britain, whom 
they regarded as considerably their fuperiors in 
knowledge. The worjd (continues Mr. V Abbe 
Banier) originally formed but one family, and had 
only one faith, but when they became difperfed 
they corrupted the purity of their primitive reli- 
gion : fome directing their courfe by land towards 
the north, under the names of Scythians, Celto- 
Scythians. and Celts, peopled thofe vaft countries 
which fcparate us from Afia; others more bold, 
braved all the dangers of the ocean. 

<( Hiftory proves that the Phoenicians and Cartha- 
ginians penetrated into the moft remote parts of 
the weftj hence no doubt, that refemblance be- 
tween 



THE DRUIDS. 49.^ 

tween the religions of nations divided by fo many 
feas and countries." 

This account of Mr. PAbbe Banier clearly ex- 
plains the parallel which has been fo often drawn 
between the Magi and the Druids; it proves that 
the Gauls derived their religion from the Perfians, 
or at lean: from thofe nations which approached 
their country towards the north. The Magi and 
the Druids, both equally refpected in their diffe- 
rent countries, were always confulted in matters of 
great importance. They were their only religious 
minifters. The Magi rejected the opinion which 
attributes to the gods a human origin nor did the/ 
diftinguifh them into gods and goddeffes ; it was 
exactly the fame with the Druids. Both governed 
the ftate, and were confulted even by fovereigns. 
Their white veils refembled each other, and both 
were equally forbid the ufe of ornaments of gold. 
The difpenfers and protectors of Juftice, they pro- 
nounced fentence, and carefully infpected the con- 
dud of thofe whom they appointed to affift them 
in the difcharge of this important function. The 
immortality of the foul was the principal point 
of belief among both the Perfians and Gauls; nei- 
ther of them erected either temples or ftatues. 
The Perfians worfhipped fire ; the Druids main- 
tained a perpetual fire in their forefts. The Per- 
fians paid their adoration to water the Gauls ren- 
dered divine honours to the fame element, From 

kk 2 thefe 



$0Q THE DRUIDS. 

thefe refemblances we may reafonably conclude-, 
that the religion of the Magi and that of the Druids 
had both the fame origin. The difference we find 
between them may have arifen from the different 
caufes of war, diftance and time. The religion of 
the Gauls appears to have always been more pure 
than that of other nations ; their ideas of the divinity 
were morejuft, and more rational than thofe of the 
Greeks and Romans. Tacitus, Maximus of Tyre 3 
and other hiftorians inform us, that the Druids 
were perfuaded that the Supreme Being muft be 
adored in filence, and with veneration as well as 
with facrifices. But this original fimplicity no 
longer exifted, even before the Roman conquefh 
The Druids forgetting their former wifdom^ 
addicted themfeives to divination and magic^ 
tolerating the horrid practice of facrirlcing hu- 
man victims to i£fus and Teutates. Tacitus 3 
Ladtantius, and Lucan atteft this barbarous de- 
pravity. 

The conqueft of Julius Ca^far introduced new 
divinities among the Gauls, and they then firft 
erected, temples, whilft the Druids of Britain 
continued the exercife of their ancient religion 
in the heart of their forefts, whofe folemn fhades 
infpired religious awe. So facred were woods 
among them, that it was forbid to cut them 
down ; they could not be approached but with 
veneration, and for the purpofe of crowning 

them 



THE DRUIDS. £01 

them with garlands and trophies. There were 
certain trees which could not be applied to com- 
mon ufes, even though they fell with age. This 
refpect arofe from the fublime idea they enter- 
tained of the divinity; they were perfuaded, that 
temples could not contain him, nor ftatues repre- 
fent him. The Gauls likewife had the higheft ve- 
neration for lakes and marines, becaufe they fup- 
pofed them the favourite abode of the divinity. 
The molt celebrated of thefe lakes was that of 
Thouloufe, into which they threw gold and filver 
which had been taken from the enemy. They 
likewife worfhipped rivers, rivulets, fountains, and 
fire. The Gauls had in the middle of their forefts 
void fpaces, confecrated to religion and religious 
ceremonies. It was here they buried the treafures 
taken from the enemy, and here they facrificed 
their prifoners ; fometimes they enclofed them in a 
colofTal ftatue of willow, and furrounding them with 
combuftible matter, confumed them with fire. 
Casfar caufed thefe retreats to be pillaged by his 
troops, from whence ill-informed hiitorians have 
concluded that the ancient Gauls had temples. 
<c The only temple of thefe people (fays Tacitus) 
is aforeft, where they performed the duties of their 
religion." None can enter thefe woods unlefs 
he wear a chain, the fymbol of his dependence on 
the Almighty, and of the fupreme power which the 
divinity has over him. Nothing is more celebrated 

k k 3 in 



£02 THE DRUIDS, 

in the hiftory of the ancient Gauls than the fore lis of 
the country of Chartres. The forefts of Thouloufe 
and Marfeilles were almoft equally famous. 

In thefe folitary retirements were held the 
fchools of the Gaulim Druids. Chartres was 
in fome manner the metropolis of the Gauls; 
but thefe three colleges all agreed in acknow- 
ledging their inferiority to the Druids of Britain 
in fcience and wifdom, 

THE DIFFERENT CLASSES of the DRUIDS, 
their MANNERS of LIVING, their DRESS 
and FUNCTIONS. 

T he word Druid is undoubtedly derived 
from the Celtic word deru> which fignifies an oak. 

The minifters were divided into different 
clafies. The Druids compofed the firft; they 
were the fupreme chiefs, and fo much were thofe 
that followed them their inferiors, and fo great 
the refpeet which the latter paid them, that they 
were obliged to depart when the Druids ap- 
peared, and till they had obtained permirlion 
could not remain in their prefence. The inferior 
miniilers were the Bards, Sarronides, and Eubages, 
or Vates. 

The Bards (whofe name in the Celtic lan- 
guage fignifies a finger) celebrated the actions of 
heroes inverfes, which they fung and accompanied 

upon 



THE DRUIDS. 503 

upon the harp. In fuch high eftimation were their 
verfes held, that they were fufficient to immorta- 
lize. Thefe Bards, though inferior to the Druids 
in power, enjoyed fo great a reputation, that if 
they prefented themfelves at the moment two ar- 
mies were upon the point of engaging, or even 
if the action was already begun, each party laid 
down their arms to liften to their propofitions. 
They did not confine themfelves to pronouncing 
the eulogium of heroes ; they had likewife the 
right of cenfuring the actions of individuals who 
fwerved from their duty. 

The Sarronides inftrudted the youth, and in- 
fpired them with virtuous fentiments. The 
Eubages or Vates had the care of facriflces, 
and applied themfelves to the contemplation of 
nature -> but afterwards the Druids referved to 
themfelves alone all religious functions, and the 
fubaltern minifters had then no employ but what 
they practifed by permiflion of the Druids. The 
origin of thefe pontiffs is loft in the remote periods 
of antiquity. 

ByAriftotle, Solon, and many others before 
them, the Druids are defcribed as the wifeft and 
moft enlightened of men in matters of religion. 
So great was the idea entertained of their know- 
ledge, that Cicero ftyles them the firfb inventors 
of Mythology. The Druids concealed in forefts^ 
there led the moft auftere lives. It was here na~ 

k k 4 tions 



£0$. THE DRUIDS* 

tions came tb confult them ; and Julius (War, 
v/ho in general admired only the fplendid vir- 
tues, could not refufe them the tribute of his 
e fie em, fo much was he aflonimed at their man- 
ner of living and their knowledge. There were 
feveral colleges of the Druids in the different 
countries of the Gauls, and we have already faid, 
that the mo ft celebrated of all was that in the 
country of Chartres. The chief of this college was 
fove reign pontiff of all the Gauls. It was in the 
forefts of this country that they performed the 
mod folemn facrifices, and here affembled the 
grandees of the country, and the legiflative bodies. 
Next to the college of Chartres, that of Mar- 
feilles was the moft confiderable. Nothing was 
more famous than the foren: of that country, and 
Lucan infpires a fort of religious terror when he 
defcribes the manner in which it was cut down 
by order of Csefar. The Druids, both young 
and old, had the fame privileges, and obferved 
the fame rules. Their drefs, however, varied in 
fome refpecls, according to their different pro-* 
yinces and the rank they occupied, 

The ceremony of being admitted into this 
order confifted in receiving the embrace of the 
old Druids. The candidate, after this, quitted the 
common drefs to inveft himfelf with that of the 
Druids, which was a coat reaching to the middle 
of the leg. This drefs was the mark of priefl> 

hood^ 



THE DRUIDS. £05 

hood, to which women could never be admitted. 
The authority of the Druids was fo extenfive, that 
no affair of importance was undertaken without 
confulting them. They prefided over the national 
councils, directed war or peace as they pleafed, 
punifhed the guilty, and could even depofe kings 
and magiftrates when they acted contrary to the 
laws of the country. Their rank was fuperior to 
that of the nobles. To their power every thing 
yielded. It was they who were entrufted with the 
education of the moft illuftrious youth, fo that 
fentiments of veneration for the Druids were in- 
Hilled into them from their earlieft infancy. To 
thefe priefts belonged the right of annually ap- 
pointing the magiftrates who were to prefide over 
the cities ; they could raife one of thefe magif- 
trates to the dignity of vergobret, which was 
equal to that of king. But this pretended king 
could do nothing without the confent of the 
Druids ; they alone could convoke the national 
council, fo that the vergobrets were in reality only 
the principal fubjedts of the Druids. Supreme 
arbiters of all the differences, of all the interefts 
of the people, juftice was only to be obtained 
throiijgh their-rniniftry. They decided equally in 
public and in private affairs. When in a cafe 
before them, they adjudged the difputed property 
to him whom they deemed the lawful proprietor, 
his adverfary was obliged to fubmit, or he was 
2 loaded 



506 THE DRUIDS. 

loaded with Anathemas, and from that time could 
offer no facrifice ; the whole nation regarded him 
as a monfter of impiety, with whom it was forbid 
to hold any communication. 

To the Druids was entrufted whatever concerned 
religion, and this gave them an unlimited power, 
Sacrifices, offerings, prayers publick and private, 
.he fcience of predicting futurity, the care of 
confulting the gods, of anfwering in their name, 
of ftudying nature, the right of eftablifhing new 
ceremonies and new laws, and of enforcing the 
execution of thofe already eftabliffied, or of re- 
forming them, fuch were the functions, and fuch 
the unbounded authority which thefe priefts en- 
joyed without controul. Their duty exempted 
them from ferving in war, or paying any publick 
impofts. The number who afpired to this order 
was prodigious, and it was open to all ranks and 
profeffions, but great difficulties attended their 
admiffion from the length of the noviciate, yid 
the indifpenfable obligation they were under to 
learn and retain by memory, the amazing number 
of verfes which contained their maxims of religion 
and political Government. The Gaulilri women 
could formerly be admitted to the rank of Druid- 
elfes, and they then enjoyed all the prerogatives of 
the order, but they exercifed their functions fe- 
parately from the men. Their divinations ren- 
dered 



DOCTRINE OF THE DRUIDS. 507 

dered them more famous even than the Druids 
themfelves. 

When Hannibal parTed through their country 
they dill enjoyed the moft diftinguifhed employ- 
ments, for it was ftipulated in a treaty which he 
made with the Gauls, that, if a Carthaginian mould 
in any refpect injure a Gaul, the caufe mould be 
tried and determined by the Gaulifti women. They 
were afterwards deprived of this authority by the 
Druids, but the period when they were firft al- 
lowed to practife it is unknown. 

DOCTRINE of the DRUIDS, their superstition, 

CEREMONY OF THE MISLETOE OF THE OAK. 

All the doctrine of the Druids tended to 
render men wife, juft, valiant, and religious. The 
fundamental points of this doctrine were reduced 
to three, adore the gods, do injury to none, be 
brave. " The object of their fcience (fays Pompo- 
nius Mela) was to attain a knowledge of the form 
and majefty of the Divine Being, and the courfe and 
revolutions of the ftars ; they pretended to be ac- 
quainted with the confbruction of the whole univerfe, 
and the retirement in which they lived certainly 
left them at full liberty to purfue their enquiries. 
That the Druids and Gauls confidered the foul as 
immortal admits of no doubt, it was their per- 
fuafion of this dogma alone, which made them 
6 regard 



508 DOCTRINE OF THE DRUI»<?. 

regard death as the certain means of arriving at z 
more happy ftate. They made a great diftindiort 
between thofe who died peaceably furrounded by 
their friends and relations, and thofe who nobly 
died in the fervice of their country. The former 
were interred without ceremony, without eulogium, 
without the fongs compofed in honour of the 
dead \ but warriors were believed to furvive them- 
felves ; their names were tranfmitted to future 
generations, and they were received into the bofom 
of the Divinity, there to tafte a never-ceafing hap- 
pinefs : they alone were honoured with tombs and 
epitaphs : but the dogma of the immortality of the 
foul was not on that account lefs general ; this 
opinion can never admit of a divifion, and that 
the Druids profeffed it is evident; they only re- 
garded as condemned to perpetual oblivion thofe 
whofe lives had been rendered illuftrious by no 
brilliant or warlike action, nor by any act of pub- 
lick utility. This cuftom was founded on the 
martial genius of the Gauls, and other Celtic 
nations, who efceemed nothing fo much as the pro- 
feffion of arms. The Druids taught, that all 
things would one day be deftroyed by fire or water. 
They believed in tranfmigration, which they could 
never have learned from Pythagoras, as it confti- 
tuted part of their doctrine before philofophy found 
its way into the Gauls. From time immemorial 
they had adopted the cuftom of burying the dead, 

or 



DOCTRINE OF THE DRUIDS. 509 

t>r of prefer ving their afhes in urns. They depofited 
in the tombs the arms of the dead, their valuable 
furniture, and an account of the money which v/as 
due to them. They even wrote letters to their 
friends after their deceafe ; they firmly believed 
that all letters thrown into the tombs of the dead 
would arrive at their place of deftination. J 

The Druids communicated verbally their fcience 
and doctrines to the candidates for that office, whofe 
noviciate was extremely long. Thefe maxims and 
fciences were never reduced to writing, they were 
delivered in verfe, and it was neceiTary to retain them 
by memory ; thefe verfes werefo numerous, that fif- 
teen and even twenty years were required to learn and 
retain them. " This (fays Julius Csefar) rendered the 
doctrine of the Druids fo myfterious, thatitwas im- 
podible to attain a knowledge of it." The Druids 
likewife cultivated the fcience of medicine, and 
the moll implicit confidence was placed in their 
judgement, as the people were perfuaded they 
knew the influence of the ftars, and could look 
forward into futurity. Thefe fages, at firft fo re- 
puted, and fo worthy of that refpect, concluded 
by giving into aftrology, magic and divination, 
hoping by thefe means to encreafe their credit and 
authority, as they had perceived that the people 
were more delighted with the marvellous than with 
truth. They had fome knowledge of botany, but 
they mixed fo many fuperftitious practices with 
their manner of collecting plants, that it was eafy 

to 



t 5*0 DOCTRINE OF THE DRUIDS, 

to perceive they were acquainted with a very final! 
number of them. 

Pliny relates their method of coile (Sting the plant 
called in Latift/elago; it muft be plucked up with- 
out the ufe of an inftrument, and with the right 
hand covered with part of the robe the plant 
was then to be fhifted rapidly into the left 
hand, as if it- had been ftolen : the perfon col- 
lecting it muft be cloathed in white, have the feet 
bare, and have previoufly offered a facriflce of bread 
and wine. Vervain was collected before the riling 
of the" fun, on the firft of the dog days, after having 
offered to the earth an expiating facriflce, in which 
fruit and honey were employed. This plant, when 
gathered in the manner mentioned, they pretended 
pofTefTed every virtue, and was a fovereign re- 
medy for all diforders. It was only neceffary to 
rub themfelves with this to obtain whatever they 
defired. It had the power n of reconciling thofe 
who were at enmity. Whoever could but touch 
this plant, felt their hearts inftantly enlivened with 
peace and joy. We muft likewife rank among 
their fuperftitions a perfuafion they entertained, 
that on the death of illuftrious perfons their fouls 
raifed up ftorms and tempefts. The rolling of 
thunder, all the extraordinary and violent move- 
ments of nature, all meteors announced, according 
to them, the death of fome diftinguifhed character* 
The Druids took pride in fuffering the opinion to 

prevail* 



DOCTRINE OF THE DRUIDS. JU 

prevail, that they could at pleafure change tbefc 
forms, or tranfport themfelves into the regions of 
the air; but the moft cruel of all their fuperftitious 
practices, was that of facrificing human victims. 
This barbarous cultom could only be abolifhed by 
the extirpation of druidiim itfelf. That it exifted^ 
the numerous edicts of the Roman emperors to 
prevent it clearly prove. 

The moft folemn of all their ceremonies was 
that of gathering the mifletoe of. the oak. This 
parafitical plant grows alfo upon other trees, but 
the Druids thought that the Divinity had principal- 
ly confided fo precious a thing to the oak. They 
traverfed the forefts with the greateft care in feareh 
of it, and congratulated each other when, after 
painful refearches, they had been able to difcover 
a certain quantity of it. This plant could only 
be collected in the month of December, and the 
fixth day of the moon. This month and the num- 
ber fix were facred among the Druids. It was 
always the fixth day of the moon that they per- 
formed their principal acts of religion. On die 
day appointed for the ceremony of gathering the 
mifletoe, they afTembled themfelves in the moft 
folemn manner, and went in proceftion towards 
the place where the plant was to be found. Two 
divines walked in front, finging hymns and fongs 
of praife. A herald carrying a caduceus followed 
thefe * then came three Druids bearing the inftru- 

merits 



£12 DRUIDESSES. 

ments neceffary for the facrifice, and laftly, the 
procefiion was clofed by the high priefrs, clothed 
in white, followed by an immenfe concourfe of 
people. When they arrived at the foot of the 
tree, it was afcended by the chief of the Druids, 
who cropped the mifletoe with a fmall golden 
fcythe, when it was received by the Druids with 
the moil profound veneration in the fagum (a 
fort of white garment) ; on receiving it they facri- 
ficed two white bulls, and this was followed by a 
feaft, at the conclusion of which they offered up 
prayers to the Divinity that he would be pleafed 
to attach to this plant a good fortune which mould 
diffufe itfelf through all thofe to whom it mould 
be diftributed. 

It was the firft day of the year that they bielTed 
the mifletoe, and diftributed it to the people* 



OF THE DRUIDESSES. 

"We have already faid, that the whole 
morality of the Druids was reduced to three prin- 
cipal points. Honour the gods, injure none, and 
be courageous. How can thefe fubiime maxims 
be reconciled with the cpinon entertained by many, 
that they had the right of life and death over their 
wives, children and flaves ? cc Paternal anddomeftic 
authority (fays Mr. V Abbe Banier) was formed up- 
on no pofitive law, but only upon refpect and love/* 

Julius 



DRUIDESSES. 513 

Julius Casfar and Tacitus dwell much upon the 
refpect which the Gauls and Germans entertained 
for their wives. Thofe of the Druids participated 
in the authority of their hufbands. They were 
confulted in queftions concerning politics or reli- 
gion. Even fince the conquefts of the Romans, 
there were temples erected among the Gauls where 
women only officiated, and which men were 
forbid to enter. The Celts and Gauls (fays Mr, 
Mallet, in his excellent introduction to the hiftory 
of Denmark) fhowed themfelves much fuperior 
to the eaftern nations, who pafs from adoration to 
contempt, from fentiments of idolatrous love to 
that of inhuman jealoufy, or of an indifference 
more infulting than jealoufy. 

The Celts confidered their wives as equals and 
companions, whofe efteem and tendernefs could 
only be nobly acquired by attention, generous con- 
duct, and acts of courage and virtue. 

The poems of OfTian prove, that the inhabitants 
of Britain have ever carried that refpect and atten- 
tion as far as any nation in the world. Conftant to 
the firfl: object of their choice, they never addicted 
themfelves to polygamy, and the tender partner of 
their love frequently followed them in difguife to 
the war. 

During the brilliant ages of chivalry we con- 
ftantly meet the fame manners and the fame refpect 
for the female fex; this was increafed by grati- 
L l tude i 



DRUIDISSES. 



tude i for as foon as a knight was wounded, the 
ladies eagerly preffed forwards to lend him their 
afiiftance, and almoft all were acquainted with 
the art of healing. However, their attentions 
were not confined to this alone ; during the time 
of convalefcence, the charms of their converfation 
ferved to moderate the impetuous courage of the 
knights, and the better to remind them of their 
duty they read to them poems and romances, in 
which whatever heroifm could effect was reduced 
to action. .We think then there is great reafon to 
doubt the truth of that opinion which gives the 
druids the horrible right of abufing their power^ . 
and of oppre fling or even facrificing the innocent 
and defencelefs. Thefe pontiffs were certainly 
jealous of their authority, bufc it w r as fo great, and 
fo perfectly eitabliihed, that there was no occafion 
to act with cruelty in their families to maintain it. 

Their empire was abfolute over the people ^ 
none were fuperior to them ; why then wantonly 
fill with terror the companions who alone could 
give charms to their folitude, the infants who 
were to tranfmit their names to poflerity, and 
the flaves whofe bufmefs it was to forefee and pro- 
vide for their neceffides ? This opinion, if at all 
true, can only allude to thofe times when the Druids 
and Gauls were in their moft degraded flate. 

There exifted three forts of female Druids. The 
firft lived in a ftate of celibacy j the fecond, though 

mar- 



ERUIDESSES. S i 5 

married, refided in the temples, where they offi- 
ciated, and faw their hufbands only one day in the 
year; the third and laft lived conftantly with -their 
hufbands, and fuperintended the concerns of their 
families. 

NotwithftanSingthefe diflinclions, theDruideffes 
in reality formed but two claries. 

The firit was compofed of prieftefTes, and the 
fecond of women who were -fubordinate to them, 
and executed their orders. 

The general refidence of the Druidefics was in 
the iflands which border the coaft of England and 
Gaul. The Druids likewife inhabited fome of thefe, 
but never liich as were occupied by the female 
Druids. It was in thefe ifles that they exercifed 
themfelves moft in magical practice. The 
opinion that they could raife ftorms and tem- 
pers at pleafure, was common to both Gauls and 
Britons, 

The reftlcfs curiofity of man e deems the art of 
feeing into futurity, fuperior to every other. The x 
Druids, after having perfuaded the people that 
they were acquainted with the influence of the ftars, 
and had the gift of prophecy, abandoned almoh: 
entirely this part of their minifrry to their wives. 
Having feen the refpecl, bordering on idolatry} 
with which the Gauls and Germans treated the 
female fex, they perceived that the perfuafions 
and predictions of their wives would obtain much 



5l6 DRUIDESSES. 

more credit, and confidence than their own. Ttf 
them they referred all queftions concerning futurity, 
and their anfwers were fo fatisfa&ory, that their 
reputation fpread over the whole world; they 
were confulted by people from every nation, and a 
more implicit faith was placed in their decifions 
than thofe of the Grecian and Italian oracles. They 
were frequently confulted by the emperors when 
matters of the Gauls. 

Hiftory has preferved feveral of their anfwers* 
but makes no particular mention of thofe of the 
Druids.^ 

We mall conclude this article by giving the 
moft certain information we can colledt of the pe- 
riod when the office of both Druid and Druidefs 
was entirely abolifhed. 

Suetonius, Aurelius Vi&or, and Seneca, main- 
tain, that it was under the emperor Claudius ; but 
as it fubfifted long after that period, it fhould 
feem that they only fpoke of human facrifices, 
which were abfolutely interdidted by that emperor. 

Druids and DruidefTes were ftill found in the 
country of Chartres till the middle of the fifth 
century, and it appears certain that this order was 
not entirely extind till the time when Chriflianity 
completely triumphed over the fuperftition of the 
Gauls, which in fome provinces did not happen till 
very late. 



FINIS. 



